Rook Dublin (E) (2026) Tobacco Pipe

Tonino Jacono entered the pipe business in 1981, finishing and selling pipes that were shaped by his brother-in-law from briar acquired and drilled by his father-in-law. After two years, Jacono left Calabria — the region comprising the Italian peninsula's southwestern "toe" — and moved north to Jesi, a municipality near Italy's Adriatic coast. Jacono began making pipes under his own name in Jesi, and still does today, with a philosophy of making high-quality pipes at a fair price point.

Jacono uses a grading system that follows the value of chess pieces: in ascending order, it goes Pawn (sandblasted), Knight (rusticated), Bishop (previously called "Jack"), Rook, Queen, and King. This Rook Dublin is fronted by a traditionally conical bowl, but in this case it is not canted, instead standing straight at the fore of a round shank. The stummel wears lovely flame grain, which is especially straight on the left flank of the bowl as it reaches up to the shallow plateau on the rim. A light stain and smooth finish accentuate the grain perfectly, and a straight saddle stem of black acrylic finishes the piece with great poise. Unconventional in shape and in the magnificence of its grain, this work of Jacono's is sure to please.