Castello: Aristocratica Billiard Tobacco Pipe

Originally produced from 1968 to 1979, the Castello pipes on which the Aristocratica line is based were made specifically by Carlo Scotti to give to a select few of his close friends. Of course, this Billiard is not one of those exclusive pipes, though it features elements of their design, specifically the fumed rim and warm auburn stain, and, though this need go unspoken, Castello's excellent craftsmanship. This is one of the more svelte Billiard examples that I've seen from the Italian workshop, with a lithe acrylic stem military mounted to a ferrule of the same material, with the shank behind it trim, flaring slightly into the transition. The bowl is possessed of a ginger taper to the rim, its walls almost straight to the eye, the even shaping and squat sleekness almost making it look larger than it is. The rounded underside is slightly flattened, allowing for sitting, and its shape is striking, a detail that I didn't notice at first, but as I did I couldn't stop thinking about it. The rim is crowned with a black plateau, dips in the briar left to give the outline a delightful texture. The sharply contrasting color palette of the pipe makes for a look that is utterly unmissable, and the fumed rim melds with the auburn hues of the bowl, wisps of flame grain eking their way upward before dissipating into the swirling black mist.