Italian Estates: Castello 'Castello' Billiard (KK) (2021) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Those interested in an Italian-styled take on the classic Billiard need look no further than this Castello rendition. Unlike other, more dramatic Italian interpretations of the design, this piece stays true to the traditional form while still presenting the shaping cues that often separate Italian pipes from their English counterparts — namely, a stronger sense of firmness about the bowl and heel, with the angle of the heel matched by that of the transition. Such is the case here, with the rim flat and parallel to the lower shank and the shank and stem combination tapering consistently — a common Castello shaping cue, though there is still a good deal of momentum to be seen in this piece, as the bowl urges forward slightly. Additionally, this piece is elevated by the judicious use of the Italian workshop's "Castello" finish, dressing the stummel in a deep, warm, chestnut stain that reveals the beautiful cross grain structure beneath it, with birdseye dense on either flank.