Italian Estates: Savinelli Punto Oro Sandblasted (122) Tobacco Pipe

Savinelli's "122" bent Pot seamlessly combines muscularity and elegance for a striking design — the broad, robust bowl being paired to a lithe, bent shank-and-stem combination. In keeping with the marque's signature Italian neoclassic approach to shaping, Savinelli has rendered the heel with firm, jutting disposition, while softening the shape's profile through the use of a gently downturned stem. Such a design cue gives the form a look that calls to mind the classic Prince shape in profile. The "122" is nearly identical to the marque's "121 KS" bent Pot, but the primary difference between the two is that the "122" here features a bowl with a more modest width, offering the shape's characteristically broad chamber but with a more compact presence.

The Punto Oro and Punto Oro Gold series begin Savinelli's highest-quality lines within its standard lineup, topped by the prestigious Giubileo d'Oro. Each Punto Oro pipe is fashioned from Mediterranean briar that's been aged for more than three years before passing ninety separate crafting and inspecting processes to ensure the strictest standards of quality — taking into consideration engineering, construction, and grain orientation. Only one tenth of all Savinelli pipes meet the Punto Oro's rigid criteria, making its pipes some of the Italian marque's most prized and collectible pieces. With a number of traditional finishes presented across the Punto Oro Gold and Punto Oro Classic lines, this particular Punto Oro piece wears a traditional, dark-stained sandblast, drawing focus to the briar's natural grain pattern, brought out with subtle texture thanks to the expert finishing work of Savinelli's artisans.