Castello: 'Castello' Bent Billiard (G) Tobacco Pipe

This bent Billiard from Italian workshop Castello is only just, with an extremely subtle curve through its stem that imbues this piece with a demurely poised silhouette. In addition, this slight downturn counterbalances the forward urge of the bowl as it reaches out from the transition, the two sides lending the profile a bit of a Cutty-like stance. Said bowl is quite robust, rising to over two inches tall, and stands proudly atop a firm, bulbously rounded heel, its smooth curves and wide transition making for a comfortable feel in hand. The walls of the bowl take on a slight taper as they rise upward, reaching a gently undulating rim that acts as a point of acute visual interest, drawing the eye to the bowl and the smoky stain of the workshop's eponymous finish. This finish reveals licks of windswept flame grain wrapping around the stummel, with a basin of birdseye centered at the heel, surrounded by flame and cross grain like the epicenter of a sunburst.