Sandblasted Bulldog (OP2) (458) Tobacco Pipe

An accomplished musician and woodworker, Scott Thile brings that attention to detail and nuanced sense of rhythm to his pipe-making skills. The Bulldog is an oft-seen shape from the Kentucky-based carver, with each pipe offering a unique variation, even if subtle, from similar designs. In this rendition, the artisan has paired a poised, fairly trim bowl replete with distinguishable beadlines to a shank and stem that display a pronounced, seamless taper toward the bit. Geometrical precision is remarkable in this crisply lined, overtly architectural form, the sharp angles making for a charming composition and lending a note of playfulness to what is often a staid, rigid shape. It's finished in a well-executed, ruby-tinged sandblast, the nomenclature panel and shank end wearing a smooth finish and chestnut stain. Topping things off is a handsome cumberland stem, lending an elegance to this piece and complementing the aforementioned ruby-tinges of the sandblast.