Silver Gray: Smooth Acorn Hawk with NAP Stem Tobacco Pipe

Silver Gray is an American pipe artisan who learned the craft working closely with her partner, fellow artisan pipe maker Brad Pohlmann, and continues to further develop her own unique style with bespoke renditions, such as this sleek yet sturdy rendition of one of Gray's signature shapes, the Acorn Hawk. The overall form is voluptuous and organic, featuring a palm-filling bowl with a domed rim that dominates the upper portion of the bowl. Said rim also features a crisply beveled inner section that adds a touch of firmness to the silhouette while also making the pipe easier to fill. The walls taper down to a strongly spurred heel that recalls the timeless Cutty shape and offer a visual counterbalance to the broad, round shank that arcs in graceful Hawkbill fashion to meet a tapered stem of brindled vulcanite. The stem is meticulously rendered in the NAP fashion, another of Gray's specialties. The NAP was pioneered by Peterson in the early 20th century and features a unique bit that channels smoke evenly across the length of the mouthpiece, providing an especially smooth, bite-free draw. Dressed in a rich chestnut finish, the stummel boasts excellent flame grain around the bowl's walls, with swirling birdseye at rim and heel.

-Gabriel Bass