Peterson: Ebony Spigot (306) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Bent pipes, while offering a comfortably clenched smoking posture, aren't often as convenient for setting down when need arises. Peterson solves that dichotomy in their "306" bent Billiard, originally introduced back in 1992. Featuring a generous bend and flattened heel, the "306" affords the benefits of a bent pipe as well as that of Poker — allowing the pipe to sit upright on a flat surface. Shape-wise, it resembles the bold form of an Oom Paul and exemplifies the Irish marque's muscular approach to shaping, making for quite the versatile pipe in signature Peterson style.

Along with their signature shaping style, Peterson of Dublin is renowned for their silverwork. The journey of becoming a Peterson silversmith requires years of training and personal mentorship from the factory's senior craftsmen, and the superlative results testify to such a demanding, lengthy process — each worker having engineered his own mandrel to the extent that every metal accoutrement made is imprinted with the subtle, personal style of the one who machined it. Peterson's Spigot line was created in 1977, after discovering an old Peterson catalog from 1906 that pictured pipes with spigot mounts, and the series is among the best at showcasing the Irish marque's signature silver treatment, fitting sterling silver around both the shank end and stem base in a spigot-mount arrangement. The construction provides further reinforcement and durability and highlights even more sterling silver than would be used for a standard military mount. Presented here in the Ebony finish, the flashy, regal metal is paired to a glossy, black stain for a thoroughly classy dress pipe aesthetic.