Italian Estates: Castello Old Antiquari Prince (KK) 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. The Prince is a seldom-seen shape from Castello, and the brand's renditions often feature squat, Tomato-like bowls, something that this take on the profile showcases nicely. Said bowl boasts plenty of plump shaping to appreciate in hand, its walls taking on an easy, arcing taper to the flat rim as they rest atop a firm, pronounced heel. A wide transition out back gives way to a short, tapering shank capped with a black acrylic military mount met with a matching stem that tapers toward the button with a demure downturn at the bit for some added gracile charm. The stummel offers a fantastic surface for the warm, light stain and crisp sandblast of the Old Antiquari finish, offering handsome grain and ample texture.