Northern Briars G4 Square Straight Billiard NB-276

• Overall Length: 154mm
• Overall Height: 54mm
• Bowl Height: 54mm
• Bowl Diameter: 42mm
• Bore: 22mm
• Weight: 61g
• Gift Boxed
• Cloth Pipe Bag Included

The Northern Briars G4 Square Straight Billiard NB-276 is an interesting piece of shaping from Ian Walker, taking the proportions of the traditional straight Billiard and working them into a distinctly squared form. The four-sided bowl has gently softened edges rather than hard corners, while the square shank runs cleanly into a broad black stem. Seen in profile it is remarkably restrained; turn it around and the unusual shaping becomes much more apparent.

The smooth red-brown finish was a good choice for this particular block. There is some very attractive briar on display, particularly across the broad faces of the bowl, where dense birdseye and swirling grain can be seen beneath the stain. The close photograph shows this especially well.

Ian Walker has been making Northern Briars pipes since the 1990s, working from his workshop in the north of England. His work has always remained firmly connected to traditional British pipe making, though pieces such as NB-276 show that he is quite willing to depart from the standard catalogue shapes when the briar warrants it.