Italian Estates: Castello Perla Nera Bent Apple (K) (65) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Italian workshop Castello has a rich history that stretches back to 1947 with its founding by Carlo Scotti, being established as one of the first Italian brands to offer high-quality handmade pipes to the general public. In the 1960s, following the addition of Luigi Radice and Peppino Ascorti to their team of carvers, Castello's pipes began to take on a form that was quite different from the Anglo-French classics that they and others had been producing. The Italian neoclassical style which they had begun to develop led not only to a shaping renaissance within Italy, but the production of a number of now iconic profiles. A plump, muscular briar, this bent Apple from Castello is rather compact overall, yet boasts plenty of chamber depth within its thick walls, the voluptuous, subtly tapering bowl making for a comfortable fit in hand. Out back, an equally stout, arching shank and saddle stem provide a nice balance, the proportions here deviating slightly from the neoclassical style of design common to Italian pipe making. Dressed in the inky black hues of the Perla Nera finish, this pipe is thoroughly handsome, with plenty of potential for jaw-hanging and striking looks that are sure to make it perfect for any smoking situation.