Partially Sandblasted Ramses Tobacco Pipe

Though he first began carving pipes in 2020 as a pastime during the COVID lockdown, artisan Antonio Lancellotti had long since acquainted himself with the world of pipes, having received his first pipe at the age of 18. While he enjoyed smoking it, he did set it aside for several years, and when the urge to pick it back up struck him several years later, he found it was in need of repair. In his search for a pipe repairman, Antonio took a deep interest in the pipe-making craft, and decided to try his hand at it, eventually turning it into a full-blown career. Though he identifies as primarily self-taught, he supplemented his pipe-making education by joining the Accademia della Pipa, where he gained expert insight from fellow artisans Davide Iafisco and Angelo Del Prete, and he spent a particularly enlightening day in the workshop of Cornelius Mȁnz, who continues to be a sounding board for Antonio to this day. These influences helped shape Antonio's style, which he describes as "clean, balanced, and respectful of proportion and line, while still allowing room for inspiration in the moment." This Ramses certainly speaks to that approach, featuring a thoughtful, balanced composition and a detailed silhouette.

With this Ramses, Antonio has taken the classic Bo Nordh shape and put his own compelling twist on it, in terms of both shaping and finish. The bowl is plump and almost Acorn-like, its heel sloping linearly into the curling, spoon-like base that cradles it. Said base transitions seamlessly into the thick, vertical shank, which features prominent paneling on the flanks that's made all the more pronounced by the stummel's partial sandblast. A dark, smoky sandblast dresses the majority of the briar's surface, yet the panels, shank face, rim, and a portion of the shank's aft all wear a smooth, lustrous finish and a chestnut stain that provide a pleasing pop of tonal and textural contrast. Joining the striking stummel is an exceptionally high-kicking stem of vulcanite, complete with an expansion ring for a stylish flourish. Eye-catching and engineered for easy jaw hanging, this Ramses is sure to make an inimitable addition to any pipe collection, and a promising start to a collection of Lancellotti pipes in particular.