Peterson: Ebony Spigot (999) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Defined by a Bulldog bowl and round shank, the Rhodesian is a classic shape that's enjoyed a place on traditional pipe charts for well over a century. On Peterson's chart, the age-old form is designated as the "999," showcasing everything pipe smokers love about the traditional shape — hard lines around the bowl; a tapering rim; and a stout, muscular disposition in hand — while also boasting the Irish marque's conventional shaping cues. The bowl tapers above and below the design's defining beadlines, while the rim barely rises above the transition thanks to the extra heft lent to the shank — a signature stylistic element of Peterson.

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.