Castello: 'Castello' Opera (KKKK) Tobacco Pipe

Defined by an oval bowl that makes pocket carry less of a pocket bulge, the Opera shape has a long history and has been rendered by many brands, but it's unusual for Castello; we've only seen a select handful from the Italian workshop over the years. It's a classic design that corresponds to the "44" on Castello's shape chart, displaying traditional shaping cues throughout, with the bowl commanding much of the piece's visual attention. Per the Opera shape the bowl is longer than it is wide and is rendered here in robust proportions, its visual presence further accentuated by being paired to a comparatively trimmer shank-and-stem combination. And with all the birdseye grain patterns on the flanks, the bowl certainly deserves to be the focal point, and this piece expertly highlights that grain with a warm stain. A pearly white acrylic accent band adorns the stem base, providing just enough contrast without distracting from the superb shaping and striking grain.