Italian Estates: Il Cerchio Sandblasted Drop Tobacco Pipe

In 2014, Angelo Del Prete took over a tobacco shop. However, the shop was lacking in high-quality pipes, so Del Prete decided to fix that problem himself and began his career as a pipe maker. Looking to expand his skillset, Del Prete visited and learned from two of Italy's most talented pipe makers, Max Rimensi of Il Duca and Davide Iafisco. Today, Del Prete has cultivated his own style, one with Italian roots but also inspired by Danish aesthetics. Del Prete prioritizes compositional harmony and deft engineering, which are represented by the Il Cerchio name, which translates to "The Circle" from Italian and represents balance: From traditional shapes to inventive Freehands, these aesthetic pillars define every Il Cerchio pipe.

At first glance, this Drop by Il Cerchio seemed to me a simple Cutty or Acorn rendition. However, after more observation, I have come to understand and appreciate Il Cerchio's re-interpretation of the shape. The bowl is analogous to a raindrop, the heel represents the sharp trailing tail and the bowl's waistline mimics the robust bottom. Furthermore, the curve from heel to shank end is broken up by the heel, clearly delineating bowl from shank and making the raindrop design standout. Additionally, the heel serves a functional purpose, making this gestural pipe a steadfast Sitter.

Moreover, this Drop is dressed in a rugged sandblast, which exposes concentric growth rings rising up the shapely bowl and radiating across the flanks of the sinuous shank. The stummel's inky stain and the stem's jet-black vulcanite meet at a white accent band, a bright, attention-grabbing flourish that brings visual balance to the pipe's reserved composition.