Peterson: Churchwarden Smooth (D17) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

A unique hybrid of Dublin and Acorn, Peterson's "D17" shape features a high-set transition, making for a rounded heel spur above which rises a flared bowl. Originally produced for the Irish marque's Danish distributor, Larsen and Peterson, around 1996, the "D" line focuses on traditional Danish shaping, creating shapes that are more slender and elegantly curved than the hearty Irish style of Peterson's other pieces. In the case of the "D17," that aesthetic is personified in the extra-trim shank and sleek taper of the bowl — the raised transition and defined heel reminiscent of classic Danish pipes.

Peterson first introduced Churchwarden pipes in 1945, the long, willowy profiles inherently forgoing the muscular aesthetic that has come to define the Irish marque's approach to pipe design. Such length is much more suited to extended, relaxing smoking sessions, however, the stem allowing for minimal movement while smoking in an armchair. It's for this reason that Churchwardens are often preferred while reading, the Germans going so far as to translate "Churchwarden" as Lesepfeife, which literally means "reading pipe." Slender and lightweight, Peterson's Churchwardens may not be convenient pocket pipes, but they more than make up for it in the comfortable smoking posture they promote — with this particular one dressed in a conservative, auburn stain, similar to the smooth, traditional finish of Peterson's Aran line, and accented with a regal nickel band.