Scottie Piersel: Sandblasted Pencil Shank Rhodesian Tobacco Pipe

As a gift for her pipe-smoking husband, Scottie Piersel ordered a Mark Tinsky pipe kit to hand make a pipe for his collection. When she finished, Piersel was hooked. Today, Piersel has bloomed into a supremely talented pipe maker who primarily crafts traditional shapes. Additionally, Piersel values crisp line work, balanced proportions, and flawless drilling, which she incorporates into all of her pipes. Also, many Piersel pipes are instantly recognizable because of her trademark pencil shanks.

We recently had a Scottie Piersel Nosewarmer come through our doors, and I hoped we would see more of these compact pipes from her soon. To my delight, Piersel has returned to the Nosewarmer form with this Rhodesian. The pert, conical bowl takes center stage here: dual beadlines cut the geometric form in half, with the upper section showcasing a crisp, linear taper that ascends to a neat, chamfered rim, while the lower half presents a shapely form that sweeps into a supple heel, offering some subtle contrast. Out back, one of Piersel's signature pencil shanks emerges from a cheeked, low-set transition. Furthermore, the Nosewarmer length keeps things proportional, with the shank being congruent to both the bowl's height and the stem's length. The trim, compact profile provided by Piersel's style makes for a uniquely bowl-centric composition, one that emphasizes the fore with a superbly slim shank-and-stem arrangement, not by enlarging the bowl to overbearing dimensions — an endearing aesthetic few other than Piersel can pull off. Moreover, Piersel dresses this Rhodesian in a detailed sandblast tinged with vivid ruby hues, while the rim is left smooth for a palpable contrast. Additionally, the vulcanite stem features a green, yellow, and red brindle that offers a colorful flourish, and it joins to the stummel via a reverse-tenon arrangement that enhances the durability of this pipe.