Castello: Collection Tennis Pot with Silver (32.100) Tobacco Pipe

Castello is well-known for their Pot renditions, though most specifically for their famed "55" bent Pot, which has not only inspired a myriad of imitators, but a great deal of literature as well. This is not that bent Pot, rather, this is a strikingly large straight Pot that's been crafted as part of a Celebratory line introduced by Castello in 2022, commemorating the noble sport of Tennis. At over six inches long, this pipe takes on a rather imposing profile, and despite not being a "55," the heel here still takes on a chin-like presence which leaves it pronounced, and keeps with the spirit of its more well-recognized cousin. The bowl here has been shaped in an interesting way, seeing the aft end elongated just a bit, and tapering as it reaches toward that side's terminus. The effect of this kind of shaping manifests at the smoker's perspective, altering the outline of the pipe so that the silhouette resembles a tennis racket. The tapering shank not only reinforces the impressive presence of the bowl, but leads to a junction that's been marked by a broad silver band etched with the image of a racket and ball, marrying the shank to a trim saddle stem of jet-black acrylic. This particular piece is numbered 32 out of 100 total examples, and comes dressed in the vibrant, auburn stain of the workshop's Collection series.