Il Cerchio Sandblasted Billiard Tobacco Pipe

Angelo Del Prete owns a smoke shop in Pordenone, Italy, that has focused on the sale of artisanal pipes since 2014, but it wasn't until 2018 that Angelo began shaping briar blocks out of pure curiosity. He contacted Italian pipe makers to learn more about the craft, spending time learning from the likes of Massimiliano Rimensi and Davide Iafisco. Angelo made his pipes available for sale starting in 2020, and today averages an annual production of 50-60 pipes made with the influences of the Italian and Danish schools of pipe making.

There's so much to admire about this Billiard of Angelo's making, from the lovely auburn stain. to the brilliant texture of the shallow sandblast, to the fact that Angelo gave it such a tall bowl and still managed to keep the weight of the entire piece so low, below one and one-quarter ounces. The walls of the canted bowl are lightly tapered leading up to the smooth rim that showcases some handsome cross grain, and the shank seamlessly meets with a tapered stem of swirling blue and black acrylic. It's a piece of great Italian craftsmanship that is not only attractive to the eyes but remarkable in its design.