Peterson: Christmas 2023 Sandblasted (53) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Peterson's approach to shaping can best be described as taking classic English and French shapes and imbuing them with a touch more muscularity. Part of this aesthetic was born out of Peterson's patented System engineering requiring a larger shank, but the style has even made its way to non-System Peterson pipes. The "53" Lovat is a fitting example — a classic shape through-and-through, this piece is rendered in quite a compact form, while remaining substantial throughout the shank and transition and housing a respectable chamber.

Peterson's Christmas Pipes have been an annual tradition since 2009, the Irish marque dressing a selection of their iconic shapes in appropriately festive fashion. In recent years, Peterson has accented this series with copper, though for 2023, they showcase the skill of their silversmiths by accenting the pipes with broad bands of intricately etched silver. These silver bands feature inset beadlines around the Peterson logo and provide a wealth of contrast against the stummel's finish. In addition to the fine display of silverwork, these pipes exhibit Peterson's talent in the blasting cabinet by dressing the stummel in a craggy sandblast that's been stained a deep, rich red: evocative of some of the earliest sandblasts to appear in the pipe world. What results is a finish that is utterly timeless, reminiscent of pipes crafted in the early 20th century and embodying an elegant character that's endlessly charming.