For their absolute best pieces, Premal Chheda and Bill Shalosky stamp their initials onto the pipe. Very few of these have ever been made, and of those only a couple have been sandblasts. In front of your very eyes is one these hallowed Signature graded pipes. And what a pipe it is! The blast is, of course, amazing, but it is how the grain is integrated into the design that makes it truly special. The way the rings radiate outward from a central point while the straight grain follows the exact curves of the bowl creates a visual effect that is simply mesmerizing. This is the very definition of how shape and grain are supposed to play off of each other, a perfect collaboration between man and nature. The exquisitely sculpted Acorn bowl is round and fullsome, inviting you to pick it up and handle it. This is a large piece, but the restrained shaping and exquisite balance make it seem less so. The color palette is warm and inviting, with the Box Elder trim ring playing well with the Cumberland stem and Burnt Sienna bowl. This is a spectacular piece made by the best pipemaking duo this side of Denmark.

Eric Vitriol