Italian Estates: Davide Iafisco Smooth Rhodesian Tobacco Pipe

Inspired in equal measure by the classic Anglo-French marques of old and the contemporary artisan makers of modern times, Davide Iafisco is an Italian artisan whose body of work spans many styles. This Rhodesian is a striking piece from Iafisco, being a shape he crafts very seldomly, with this particular example displaying a unique profile possessed of a subtle fluidity. The transition is fairly tight, primarily thanks to the bowl's build, and it gives way to a lifting shank that tapers gently as it reaches for a similarly tapering shank of demurely downturned black vulcanite. The shank and stem are comparatively willowy and poise this piece for comfortable smoking while keeping much of this pipe's visual weight rooted on the bowl. Said bowl stands atop a sharp, pronounced heel defined by a curving ridgeline at the end of the lower line of the shank, drawing the eye to the fore. From this heel, the bowl's walls flare out expressively to a high-set waist marked by an angled ridgeline that additionally denotes an arcing taper to the chamfered rim. Dressed in a warm, rich stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout, with flickering flame through the lower walls of the bowl and birdseye at the rim.