Rook Bent Dublin with Silver (Checkmate) (2026) Tobacco Pipe

Tonino Jacono got his start in pipe making in 1981 when he joined forces with his brother-in-law, who shared his interest in the craft, and his father-in-law, who owned a briar-cutting mill. At first, the trio would share in the pipes' production, with his father-in-law drilling the pipes, his brother-in-law shaping them, and Tonino finishing them. These days, however, Tonino heads production on his own, utilizing charmingly old-school tools and techniques and sustaining the workshop's legacy of excellent pipes at fair prices.

An excellent demonstration of the Italian neoclassical style, this bent Brandy from Jacono boasts a sizable, thick-walled bowl that offers plenty of substance in hand, not to mention visual substance within the composition. Stamped "Checkmate," this offering is actually quite large all around, measuring over two and a half inches tall and weighing nearly a quarter of a pound. The enhanced size of the stummel offers plenty of real estate to show off the briar's handsome grain, which consists of tight curlicues of birdseye along the rim and length of the shank, and hearty tendrils of flame grain emanating along the bowl's walls. These mesmerizing grain patterns are accentuated by a rich, smooth finish, which makes a handsome backdrop for the silver band that decorates the junction.