Claudio Cavicchi: Ambra Smooth Bent Dublin with Palm Wood with Claudio Albieri Travel Case (05/07) Tobacco Pipe

Since 2018, Claudio Cavicchi and Claudio Albieri have collaborated on a limited edition project, with Cavicchi crafting a distinctive line of pipes and Albieri fashioning cases or boxes out of high-quality Italian leather. The Ambra project for 2021 introduces Cavicchi's first ever contrast-stained pipes, and each piece is fashioned from the same select briar that comprises the Italian artisan's Perla- and Diamante-graded shapes. There are only seven total pieces in this series, making each pipe highly collectible and incredibly rare. Each design comes with a leather case, with pockets for additional accessories, and a pouch, all handcrafted by Albieri.

Contrast stains are a particularly laborious, time-consuming process, requiring a stummel to be stained and allowed to fully absorb that color before portions of the stain are sanded down to virgin briar and a second color is applied. In the hands of Cavicchi, the results are exceptionally stunning, as evidenced by this bent Dublin, which showcases some gorgeous, tight strands of flame grain across the flanks of the bowl in an alternating warm and dark stain. Shape-wise, this piece is a bowl-centric, Italian neoclassical rendition of the shape chart standard, with a large bowl set to a low-slung shank-and-stem combination. The bowl tapers gradually from the broad, flared, plateau-crowned rim to the subtly lifted heel. The oval shank broadens gradually along its length to a wide, compressed face that's adorned with a shimmering accent of palm wood. A saddle stem of jet-black acrylic tops off the design and makes the subtlest of downturns for a comfortable smoking posture. It's a handsome, stylish piece of craftsmanship, and its sure to become a favorite among any collector's rotation.