Italian Estates: Claudio Cavicchi Smooth Bent Apple (CCCC) Tobacco Pipe

Claudio Cavicchi is a skilled pipe maker with over 50 years of experience, known for his remarkable ability to highlight the intricate grain of each block of briar, transforming it into stunning pieces like this bent Apple. A handsome rendition of the classic shape, this CCCC-graded bent Apple features a robust, full-bodied bowl at the fore of a gently bent shank-and-stem arrangement. The bowl's bulbous figure contours well to the hand, formed by walls that curve out from a soft heel to a flat rim. A well-rounded shank marries the bowl and pairs to a sleek, tapering stem of black acrylic. Cavicchi's profile often features bowl-centric designs, and while the bowl on this piece is substantial, the hearty shank and softly bent stem offers more balanced proportions. The stummel is dressed in a honey-blonde stain that highlights tendrils of flame grain along the bowl, all adorned by a trim black accent band along the junction.