Smooth Billiard with Silver (20) Tobacco Pipe

If a certain other name were stamped on this briar's shank, I do suspect it would also be accompanied by a small constellation's worth of stars. As it is, however, this sturdily proportioned, lofty-rimmed straight classic Billiard comes to us from Li Zhesong, and serves I think as pretty clear evidence that modern designs aren't the only arena in which this artisan has game. He strikes a fine balance here in the form, even with so much extra height up front in play, and the lines are as clean as anything off the finest old English marques' shape charts.

(Admittedly, there's probably some Danish influence in there too, judging by the long taper and low waistline of the bowl.) Even the proportions between shank length, accent width, and the saddle stem's base are spot on in creating a natural rhythm and relationship to each other. And then there's the grain, but I think you can see the quality of that clearly enough for yourself.

- Eric N. Squires