Italian Estates: Castello Pezzo Unico Collection Great Line Fiammata Bent Dublin (15.09.2022) Tobacco Pipe

Meaning "unique piece" in English, the Pezzo Unico series represents the best of what Castello has to offer. Pipes within the venerated line are hard to come by as one might expect, as each piece displays beautiful, consistent grain and perfect shaping. They're also exceptionally rare to see, as only an incredibly limited percentage of the workshop's output will earn the prestigious designation. And of those that do come into creation, most wind up staying in Castello's own museum, as peak examples of the marque's work - and not for sale.

As a Pezzo Unico piece, it's expected that this bent Dublin would showcase some excellent grain, but that fact is further bolstered by its being stamped with Castello's "Fiammata" designation, reserved only for those pipes that display fantastic flame grain. Furthermore, this pipe belongs to the Great Line series, thanks to its incredible dimensions, this resulting in a look that's strikingly neoclassical, with the bowl rising to well over two inches tall and holding a breadth of two inches. At over six inches long, this is impressive stature-wise, though in profile, its soft curves and steady flow from button to rim lend it a bit of softness that ensures it stays an inviting presence in your collection. A wide transition allows for easy draping of a digit, with the shank lifting out and tapering to find a demurely bent acrylic stem of jet-black acrylic, which continues the taper. Up front, the bowl flares out from a pronounced heel to a broad rim crowned with plateau, its walls taking on a ovoid shape that's compressed at the flanks and completely changes the looks of things from the smoker's perspective, keeping the composition dynamic and alluring. What's more, this piece pinches at the bowl's waist, enhancing the flare of the rim and affording the fingers an excellent space to wrap around. Dressed in the vibrant honey-auburn finish of the Collection line, this pipe is wrapped in a dense array of flickering flame grain that completely envelops the bowl, directing the eye to the rim's vast and tightly packed plateau crown.

As a member of the Pezzo Unico series, this pipe is contained within its own custom-made, lined presentation box, and comes with a signed certificate of authenticity, attesting to the care that went into this pipe's creation. This certificate states that the pipe was completed on September 15th, 2022, and was carved from a specially aged piece of Tuscan briar by one of the workshop's best artisans.