Castello: Old Antiquari Bulldog (KKKK) Tobacco Pipe

The name Castello, "castle" in Italian, is meant to evoke an aura of pleasant fantasy. Founded by Carlo Scotti in 1947, Castello became a trendsetting marque, being among the first Italian brands to market luxury, hand-made pipes and helping to set the bowl-centric and whimsical standards typical of Italian neoclassicism. With balanced proportions between the shank, stem, and bowl, this Bulldog, bestowed with Castello's "KKKK" designation, is a rather reserved take on the traditional shape. A diamond shank grows out of the bowl from a thick transition, forming a chaste taper that continues through the stem and into the bit. The shank's bottom edge continues through the bowl's base, ending at the fore of the heel with a dignified point. From this point, the bowl's curvature takes off, expanding into a double beadline that marks the beginning of a slick taper to the rim. The stummel wears the workshop's Old Antiquari finish — the skillfully rendered sandblast and gold and brown hues spotlighting ripples of growth rings emanating from the heel.