Italian Estates: Luigi Viprati Smooth Bent Dublin (Four Clover) Tobacco Pipe

Luigi Viprati is an experienced Italian craftsman who's been carving fine pipes by hand since 1972, developing a firm grasp on the Italian neoclassical style of pipe making. As the years went on, Viprati received inspiration from Alberto Paronelli, and his hobby turned into a passion in 1984: marking the year when he began stamping his pipes with his name. Viprati focuses on creating high-quality pieces with every pipe that he crafts, and his artistic leanings reveal themselves in pipes such as this bent Dublin. A sweeping, Horn-like interpretation of the classic shape, this pipe boasts a consistent expansion through its travel toward the bowl. A wide transition here gives way to a sinuous shank-and-stem combination that lifts upward, tapering toward a smartly curved stem of jet-black acrylic and offering a comfortable smoking posture. The shank and stem here balance a flaring bowl that rises to a tall rim, one which stands atop a sweeping heel: the silhouette showcasing a fluid undercurve. Dressed in a warm, honeyed stain, the stummel displays handsome grain throughout, with flame at the flanks and rich birdseye at the rim.