G. Penzo: Sandblasted Liverpool with Horn (Shell) (A) Tobacco Pipe

Giacomo Penzo is an Italian artisan that currently lives in Ireland, working for Peterson as the marque's Pipe Specialist. His considerable talent mixed with his background in industrial design make him quite adept at pipe making, often favoring stylized, organic shapes replete with a sleek, streamlined sensibility. His deft finishing work and use of ornate accent materials further distinguish his pipes as not only aesthetically rich smoking instruments but as genuine works of creativity. This Liverpool deftly showcases what makes his pipes so special, with the pert, upright bowl sitting at the front of a lengthy rounded shank and abbreviated, tapered stem of jet-black vulcanite. More subdued than some of the other pieces we've seen from the Italian artisan, this piece maintains the elegant, refined sensibility expected from his work, striking a crisp, neat profile that anchors most of the visual at the bowl with silky line work. The stummel wears a lively sandblasted finish that draws out some exquisite growth rings that stack up the bowl, accentuating its stature and lending plenty of stimulating texture to delight the fingers. An accent of horn marks the transition, offering a subtle, light note to the pipe's overall dark complexion.