Davide Iafisco: Sandblasted Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

Among Italy's most established and experienced artisan pipe makers, Davide Iafisco hand carves pipes of remarkable artistry and paramount craftsmanship. Many recognize Italian pipe making for its dramatic proportions and evocative finishes — à la pipes from Castello, Radice, and other historic workshops — but Iafisco's portfolio prioritizes the design cues championed by Danish, Japanese, and American artisans combined with his own creative inclination. His pipes often feature dynamic gesture and soft lines, sometimes accenting by asymmetry, and always supporting by immaculate finishes and sound engineering.

This bent Dublin from Iafisco exudes a flowing charm, and it's a nicely compact piece without sacrificing substance or chamber depth. The bowl flares into an expansive rim of natural briar plateau, and the underside is framed by two ridglines that Iafisco has continued through the hand-cut stem. Tying the mouthpiece into the overall composition, these ridgelines connect along the top of the stem base to create a half saddle and add an accenting flourish. It's all dressed in a dark sandblast for a reserved and traditional aesthetic, highlighting the grain in light texture and contrasted by the innermost rim's light, smooth finish.