Sandblasted Morta Cavalier Tobacco Pipe

English artisan Chris Askwith is one of few artisan pipe makers in the country, and his personal style often hews close to classic Anglo-French design, with sleek, precise shaping and balanced proportions displayed throughout his portfolio. Though not one of his rarest shapes, the Cavalier is a rather uncommon find as made by Askwith, and his interpretations of the profile always showcase a decidedly modern approach to shaping: as evidenced by this piece. Coming in at more than eight inches long, this pipe's impressive length immediately draws the eye, with much of this reach being thanks to the shank, which lifts subtly out of the transition and extends out to meet a sleekly tapering stem of deep, sparkling, purple resin. The transition is cheeked, showcasing some plump curves around the bowl, as the shank extends out of the fore, creating two areas of cheeking to further emphasize the lower walls of the bowl before being capped by a resin fitment that matches the stem. The bowl itself is tall, standing on a flat, angled heel and growing flaring, Dublin-esque walls that expressively expand as they reach up to a domed rim, nicely insulating the chamber. Showcasing one of Askwith's favorite mediums, this pipe is made entirely from morta: a semi-petrified oakwood that's been preserved over the course of millennia within peat bogs, the environment's highly acidic water working to protect the trees from decay. Dressed in a crisp sandblast and inky stain, the stummel here showcases morta's iconic banded patterning throughout.