Peterson: Christmas 2023 Sandblasted (406) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

While the "408" does display Prince-like elements, the "406" is Peterson's definitive take on the classic Prince shape. Seemingly plucked straight from a vintage English catalog, the profile displays the design's characteristically long, slightly downturned stem, informing its reputation for elegance. The bowl is squat and plump, with perhaps some extra heft to its base, per Peterson's signature shaping style, but the shank and transition are decidedly trimmer, catering more to traditional Anglo-French proportions than the robust, muscular aesthetic seen throughout the Irish marque's portfolio.

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.