Castello: Collection Great Line Bent Dublin (1982) (77) Tobacco Pipe

While Castello is well known for crafting their pipes out of briar that has been aged for a decade, the pieces in the Great Line series stamped "1982" denote shapes crafted from select blocks of briar that were set aside that year to age and cure, making for rare and highly collectible designs. This bent Dublin is one such piece, featuring a hearty, gestural bowl that boasts a chamber capacity over two inches in depth. Possessing a flared, undulating rim and a lithe taper, the bowl of this piece sits atop a pronounced, muscular heel that carries momentum through the wide transition, across the flared rim, and through the arcing tapered stem of jet-black acrylic. The relatively trim proportions of the shank-and-stem combination offset the stout, muscular qualities of the bowl in profile, striking a gentle S-curve and a comfortable smoking position. The stummel wears one of the Italian marque's smoky, contrast-stained smooth finishes, highlighting the gorgeous bands of flame grain that flow across the flanks of the bowl and the fetching whorls of birdseye that adorn the rim. Elegantly crafted and infinitely charming, this piece will make a welcome addition to any collector's rotation.