Peterson: Newgrange Spigot (150) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Peterson's "150" straight Bulldog is a pert, upright rendition that fits in perfectly with the Irish firm's characteristically muscular shaping style. It's quite the forthright take on the classic English shape, but in keeping with the marque's tradition, it features an incredibly robust, crisp diamond shank. The bowl wears a set of well-defined beadlines and displays a firm heel underneath, though it remains a touch leaner than other, more squat renditions of the shape, making the "150" an ideal choice for those who prefer a taller, trimmer style of Bulldog bowl.

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 Newgrange finish, the flashy, regal metal is paired to a cumberland-hued acrylic stem, the red hues echoed by the smooth rim, and contrasted against the stummel's dark-stained sandblast.