Italian Estates: Il Duca Barone Sandblasted Tomato (DDD) Tobacco Pipe

Beginning his career at 14, Max Rimensi of Il Duca has been honing his craft for decades. Taking inspiration from his birth city of Ferrara, Rimensi pays homage to his culture by implementing a grading system with the different grades named after various aristocratic titles from his home city. Rimensi's pipes vary in shaping style, spanning from traditional Billiards to unorthodox Freehands, and displaying Danish and German influences in addition to that of his homeland. Showcasing the artisan's eclectic style is this Barone sandblasted Tomato.

The bowl of this offering is incredibly squat, even for a Tomato; rippling growth rings emanate from its flat heel. Said growth rings are emphasized by the crisp sandblast dressing most of the stummel — the inner portion of the bowl's rim being the exception. Behind the squat bowl, a short, subtly-flared shank terminates in a smooth ring. A hardwood accent of a similar finish adorns the shoulders of the saddle stem that joins said shank. Apart from the shoulders, said stem is brindled and comes in a rich, ruby-tinged hue.