Davide Iafisco: Smooth Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

Davide Iafisco's design principles are among the most artistically inclined as any I have ever seen in the world of pipe making, and I find this appropriate given his incredibly philosophical, almost spiritual approach to the medium, something which I both appreciate and empathize with. His start in this journey was sparked by an appreciation for classic, traditional shapes and the longstanding tradition of carving among the various Anglo-French marques, as well as the, relatively, more recent rise in Italy's pipe making. Inspired along the way by the work of many modern artisans, Iafisco's own offerings became more Danish-inspired and organically inclined and certainly more strikingly stylized, something attested to by this bent Dublin.

A large, forward-urging bowl leads this piece onward with a decided gestural flow, the slanted rim's rounded, dome-like top pushing it slightly upward as it emerges from its perch atop the lifted heel. This development of momentum is palpable, imbuing the pipe with a good deal of dynamism, something which is accentuated by Iafisco's use of ridgelines that sweep through the underside from their start at the semi-ovoid shank end. Said ridgelines give the visual implication of pushing the bowl upward, working in tandem with the lifted heel to add an element of verticality to this piece without exaggerating the actual present height. The transition is nearly parabolic, though the aft end pushes out a touch thanks to the expansive rim, creating a good deal of eye-drawing negative space that allows the eye to appreciate the construction of the entire piece. This feature falls in line with the flaring shank, its own expansion proportional with that of the rim, giving the transition a basin-like quality and allowing for a structured harmony to exist here. At the face of the shank we see that it is both domed and softly inflated, pushing out in an arc while its ginger upturn angles the trim saddle stem in a sculptural posture.

The finish here is incredible, with the briar being dressed in a warm mahogany contrast stain, highlighting striations of flame grain that travel from one point of the shank end to the other, with the bowl being wrapped in a shroud of flame grain which further emphasizes its height and flare. When looking at the rim, however, one sees an extensive ocean of birdseye, that's sure to keep the eyes locked. There is even dense birdseye present on the shank face, framing the inlaid brass ring that reinforces the stem's mount, and another vast swathe on the underside which makes this an incredible feat of both pipe-making prowess and technical mastery from one of Italy's best artisans.