Smooth Long Shank Strawberry with Silver (17/20) Tobacco Pipe

Over the past few years the Strawberry has become one of Chris Asteriou's signature shapes and is marked by a flaring, often bulbous Acorn-like bowl as well as the form's characteristic heel spur underneath the transition. Though the Greek artisan's portfolio is rife with shape chart standards, Asteriou also excels at fashioning organically inclined Freehands as this piece can attest. That said, each Strawberry design differs in its execution as Chris will alter the proportions or utilize different accenting materials. This particular long-shanked rendition is among the most impressive we've received form Asteriou in regards to shaping, grain, and accent work.

Firm ridgelines emerge from the lenticular shank face, traveling along the sides of the shank before merging together to form the shape's distinctive heel spur which features a small kiss of plateau. Those ridgelines also serve to accentuate the bowl's roundness, creating the impression that the bowl is perched like a piece of fruit hanging from a tree branch — a fitting shaping cue for an inherently organic shape such as this. The shaping here also showcases the briar's grain beautifully with streaks of flame grain along the sides of the shank framing whorls of birdseye along the entire top and bottom of the shank. Even more flame grain envelopes the bowl while swirling birdseye is displayed along the rim and heel with the vibrant contrast stain making the grain even more visually enticing. Asteriou is renowned for his stellar silver work and this piece absolutely delivers as sterling silver graces the end of the shank, with the disc-shaped base of the stem mirroring the raised ring along the shank. It's an exemplary piece that demonstrates why Asteriou's work is so desirable and widely respected.