Sandblasted Olivewood Apple with Juma and Fordite Tobacco Pipe

Every July since 2015, Smokingpipes has hosted the American Pipe-Making Exposition, an event that showcases the work of a number of America's best artisan pipe makers, all united under a central theme. This theme acts as a guideline which sets the stage for pieces that, while they may share a similar trait, are each unique, showcasing the singular sensibilities of the artisan who crafted it. For 2023, the theme was alternate stummel materials, and, to that end, Bill Shalosky has presented us with this robust Apple carved from olivewood.

Bill Shalosky's formal education saw him earn a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art and Design, his background in bowl turning and dabbling in clay pipe making seeing him doing repairs at the Smokers' Haven shop. Before long he had moved on to crafting their handmade series of pipes, and afterward began crafting his own line of handmade pieces, becoming one of the foremost artisans in the United States as well as one of BriarWorks' in-house craftsmen. Shalosky's past woodworking and his degree in fine arts have lent him quite the unique shaping style: one which displays a respect for the classic profiles of old while maintaining a distinctly modern sense of style.

This pipe is something of a combination of features which call back to Shalosky's past work, though its utilization of olivewood sets it apart from much of his other pieces, as we've never seen a Shalosky piece using olivewood. That alone makes this piece an impressive one, as he's used this material to carve the entire stummel, doing so expertly in this signature rendition of the Apple. A full-bodied pipe with a robust charm, this pipe pairs a trim, softly tapering shank to a more swiftly tapering stem made from pale Juma and accented at the base with a band of multicolored Fordite. This accent is one of Shalosky's most favored, displaying a striking palette thanks to its composition of myriad layers of hand-sprayed enamel paint harvested from automotive factories. A wide transition gives way to this shank and stem pairing and leaves plenty of room to drape a digit, a subtle cheeking at the flanks reinforcing the curvature of the bowl. Said bowl stands atop a firm heel and flattened underside, its walls expanding swiftly to a low-set waistline before taking on a lengthy, arcing taper to the chamfered rim. The hearty build of the bowl makes for a reassuring presence in hand, and its supple contours keep it feeling comfortable. The bowl's size additionally offers it ample opportunity to showcase striking grain beneath the stummel's crisp sandblast, the ink-on-paper grain of olivewood taking on a textural element as its growth rings ripple through the flanks of the stummel.