J. Mouton: Sandblasted Rhodesian with Fossilized Whale Spine Tobacco Pipe

Jason Mouton is an American artisan working out of Gueydan, Louisiana, where he crafts pipes with a distinctly American aesthetic, often reinterpreting classic shapes to emphasize plumpness at the fore. This Rhodesian showcases that style well, though in slightly more understated fashion, as the presence of the bowl is balanced well by a decently thick shank. Compared to some of his other work, this Rhodesian leans more toward the classic style of American carving, the pipe's shaping typified by a compact muscularity throughout its build. Added emphasis is still lent to the bowl, however, as its walls stand on a rounded heel and flare out to a high-set ridgeline, this ridge marking the Rhodesian's requisite taper to the rim. The bowl's flare is more pronounced compared to other American Rhodesians, with a slightly more cinched arrangement of the lower walls that lends the flare a more expressive appearance. A wide transition out back gives way to a hearty, curling shank that lifts to reach a sleekly curved saddle stem of hand-cut black vulcanite, the base showcasing a subtle flare out toward the bit and a pale accent of fossilized whale spine. This band is matched by another accent situated on the bowl's right flank, where a small disc of the material has been inlaid into the briar, its tones contrasted richly by the stummel's crisp, inky sandblast. Plump, hearty, and tightly-knit, this pipe measures less than five inches long and is well-suited to travel carry and comfortable smoking wherever it's needed.