Davide Iafisco: Partially Sandblasted Long Shank Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

Davide Iafisco is among the foremost carvers of his generation, with a singular aesthetic that combines influences from his native Italy and the Danish masters, fusing the best of both into a bold and gestural style. Iafisco has studied with some of the best pipe makers around, including Teddy Knudsen and Claudio Cavicci, making impressive use of his experience. This bent Dublin is an excellent example of the Italian artisan's ecumenical style. The bowl displays a broad, flaring rim, with walls that taper smoothly to a gently curved heel. A long, lenticular shank brings up the rear, with a flared conjunction to a comfortably bent cumberland saddle stem. The bottom of the shank is carved into a nearly paneled shape, creating ridgelines near the heel that hews to the left. The rim matches the ridgeline by flaring in the same direction, creating a perfect balance between the two features and lending the pipe a strong, forward-urging silhouette with subtle asymmetry. Iafisco's eye for contrast is also on display in this piece, as the long shank is left smooth along the bottom section, along with the inner rim and the rear of the shank, all stained a deep walnut hue and boasting excellent birdseye, with a touch of cross grain at the mortise. The rest of the stummel is dressed in a crisp black sandblast, revealing impeccable growth rings that ripple up the voluptuous bowl. This energetic, yet balanced piece offers a wealth of engaging texture and excellent grain, sure to delight the eye as much as the fingers.