Italian Estates: Il Ceppo Partially Sandblasted Billiard (3) Tobacco Pipe

Stemming from the Pesaro school of pipe design, the Il Ceppo workshop began making pipes in the 1970s. Franco Rossi and his sister Nadia carry on the current tradition, producing fine smokers with an Italian flair like this straight Billiard. Dressed in a traditional stain, the finish features smooth sides on the bowl and shank to highlight excellent vertical grain and, quite uniquely, a sandblasted heel to provide extra finger traction and tactile stimulation. Paired with a jet-black acrylic saddle stem, this handcrafted piece represents both tradition and innovation, perhaps the best of both worlds.