Castello: Old Antiquari Prince with Boxwood Stem (with Extra Stem) (12.20) Tobacco Pipe

In the summer of 2021, Smokingpipes' Sykes Wilford traveled to Cantù, Italy, to visit the prestigious Castello workshop. During that visit, Sykes and Franco Coppo, the workshop's manager, concocted an idea for a limited edition release of Castello pipes that featured hand-cut boxwood stems. The result of that brainstorming session was a special release of Castello's "15" Billiard, and not long afterward, the duo re-teamed and presented a limited run of boxwood stem-fitted "25" Dublins. This "24" Prince represents the third collaboration between Castello and Smokingpipes, and just like the previous releases, the iconic shape is presented in a number of the marque's most recognizable finishes and comes complete with a boxwood stem as well as a black acrylic stem.

Numbered 12 out of 20, this Prince is a stylish rendition of the classic shape, presenting a more traditional profile than we're used to seeing from Castello. The bowl here is chubby and round, its softly contoured walls standing atop a plump heel at the fore of a slender, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement. The bowl's supple curves make for a delightful in-hand presence, filling the palm with just the right amount of substance. The shank-and-stem arrangement's svelte build keeps the overall form sleek and minimalist in profile, allowing the eye to appreciate the various aspects of the design. The shank end receives the stem via a military mount configuration that ensures that the shape can be easily dissembled. Dressed in Castello's Old Antiquari sandblast, the stummel displays a beautiful assortment of grain about the bowl, offering plenty of visual appeal.