Peterson: Killarney Red (129) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

We often discuss Peterson's signature aesthetic as being muscular and robust, with more visual weight placed on the shank and transition than, even, English-styled pipes. It's this design cue that most readily defines what's come to be known as the Irish style of pipe making. Peterson's "D" shapes, however, took a different approach. Originally produced for the Irish marque's Danish distributor, Larsen and Peterson, around 1996, the "D" line focused on traditional Danish shaping, creating shapes that are more slender and elegantly curved than the hearty Irish style of Peterson's other pieces. Said Danish style is epitomized here in the "129" — once designated as the "D6" — a form free of hard lines and whose curling profile tows the line between Horn and bent Dublin.

Like many of Peterson's lines, the Killarney takes its name from an Irish town — in this case, one located in the southwest. Introduced in 1949, the Killarney features a vivid, ruby stain, over which a lacquer finish is applied for added protection and a higher sheen. The color palette calls to mind traditional English finishes of the early 20th century, hearkening back to an era when darker stains were the norm (lighter finishes wouldn't become popular until the decade before WWII). Fitted with twin rings of nickel, the Killarney boasts a formal, vintage appeal, similar to the black-and-chrome dress pipe motif, but with a more colorful persona.