Castello: Sea Rock Briar Bent Egg with Silver Cap (45.75) Tobacco Pipe

Years ago, Castello used to stamp their pipes with shape numbers and this bent Egg corresponds to the "93" design within their shape chart. The Italian workshop continues to base many of their current pipes off that shape chart, tweaking certain elements and presenting them in a variety of finishes and occasionally with accenting materials. While this offering wears a dual finish, the bowl wearing the craggy Sea Rock rustication with the shank left smooth, it did not receive the "Pi" stamp. It still offers a great deal of visual and textural contrast, the bowl's dark stain juxtaposed against the shank's warm hue before transitioning to the jet-black acrylic army mount. The stem continues the shank's upward arch before terminating in a gentle downturn and can be removed from the mount at any time, even while the pipe is still warm. Perhaps most striking on this piece is the sterling silver cap that adorns the rim, etched with Castello's castle logo. The hinged cap can be closed to save a packed bowl for later while the rim guard will protect against any charring. It's featured here as part of a limited edition series of only 75 pieces, with this one serialized as number 45.