Italian Estates: Ardor Venere Fantasy Smooth Bent Dublin (Dorelio Rovera) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

With a storied history dating back to 1911, the Ardor marque is a long-standing family business that is still owned and operated by the descendants of the original founder. After his father founded Sociedade Rovera in Varese, Italy, young Angelo Rovera knew he wanted to carry on the family's legacy within the pipe industry. With the help of his son, Angelo established Ardor in 1974, and worked to maintain the high level of craftsmanship and quality products he'd been brought up with. After Angelo's passing over 20 years later in 1999, his grandsons, Damiano and Dimitri, took over the business and still run it today.

This bent Dublin from Ardor showcases Italian neoclassic whimsy, in addition to an impressive use of materials. Rising from a softly pointed heel, the walls of the bowl flare toward a plateau-crowned rim that looks into a respectable tobacco chamber. An acute transition gives way to a rounded shank that mirrors the bowl as it flares toward its face, which is adorned in an acrylic accent of swirling hues. A metallic accent protrudes from said face, bookend by a stem made of the same swirling acrylic. The contemporary features of the aft pair well to the naturally-stained stummel, displaying stunning flame grain across the bowl.