Peterson: Sherlock Holmes Supreme Silver Mounted Deerstalker P-Lip Tobacco Pipe

Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never directly named the deerstalker cap as Sherlock Holmes' headwear of choice, references of "ear-flapped travelling cap" and "close fitting, cloth cap" in The Adventure of Silver Blaze and The Boscombe Valley Mystery naturally led to the stories' illustrators depicting the genius detective in a deerstalker hat. The cap both fit Doyle's descriptions and was a typical accessory of the time period. Ever since, the deerstalker has become synonymous with Sherlock, having been worn by his numerous on-stage and on-screen portrayers. Peterson's Deerstalker (the "XL14" shape outside the Sherlock series), however, isn't an ear-flapped cap but, rather, a slightly bent Rhodesian, full of bold, robust proportions — a signature aesthetic of the Irish marque and a style seen through the entire, commemorative Sherlock Holmes collection.

Peterson introduced the Sherlock Holmes series in 1987 with a one-off design commemorating the 100th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet. Two years later, the Irish marque decided to add a new shape every six months, forming what would eventually become the 18-pipe Sherlock Holmes collection. Each pipe in the collection also showcases Peterson's exemplary silverwork — the firm being renowned for its application of sterling silver, with the Sallynoggin factory's smiths having completed a years-long mentorship stewarded by Peterson's senior craftsmen. The Sherlock Holmes line boasts broad accent bands of the regal metal, etched with the collection's logo, complemented here by a vivid, honey-blonde stain for a vibrant, eye-catching aesthetic.

When fashioning new pipes, Peterson separates stummels into various grades, differentiating between degrees of quality and grain orientation. For decades, the Supreme grade reigned, well, supreme, being the pinnacle of Peterson's production. However, throughout the '00s, the prestigious designation began to fall out of use. That all changed, though, in 2019 with Peterson resurrecting the superlative Supreme stamp, followed by the A+ and A grades, respectively. Out of 2,000 stummels, only one will be of Supreme quality and perfection, making the line truly the best, most exclusive offering from the Irish firm. Dressed in a honey-blonde stain for best grain definition, this piece's patterns are on full, natural display, and it joins the ranks of Peterson's best pipes, bar none.