Il Cerchio Smooth Dublin with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Meaning "The Circle" in Italian, Il Cerchio pipes are handmade by Angelo Del Prete, who began crafting pipes in 2018 to broaden the selection of briars he offered at his own tobacco shop. He sought mentorship from Massimiliano Rimensi and Davide Iafisco, and began to cultivate an intimate understanding of the nuances of pipe making. He's since developed a distinctive style of his own, drawing on the work of his aforementioned tutors as well as the Danish school of design. His portfolio runs the gamut from old-school Anglo-French classics to more eclectic designs, with this Dublin being a fine example of the latter.

This piece boasts a broad, thick-walled bowl that stands at the fore of a sleek oval shank and a slender saddle stem. While the bowl retains the forms' characteristic flare, its rim ebbs toward the aft of the composition, rising high in a wave-like crest and naturally leading the eye to the shank and stem. The shank is extended by two knuckles of craggy bamboo, which add a touch of organicism and vibrant color to the ensemble. A smooth, auburn finish coats the briar and highlights gorgeous flame grain across the bowl's flanks and striking birdseye across the rim.