Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Dublin (CCCCC) Tobacco Pipe

Physically manifested elegance. That's my first impression, and I think it's accurate. This Cavicchi Dublin carries the underside of a Horn while rising precipitously upward, with an easy transition to the lenticular shank, which itself contains the only ridge work on the piece: two crisp lines, one on either side, running from the end of shank to mid-bowl, where they gradually smooth into the bowl dimensions. Near that end of shank are two very trim, twin bands of black acrylic which provide visual diversity as well as a subtle contrast to the light stain of the briar. The grain is what you would expect on a 5-C Cavicchi: Stunning. Organically unifying grain and shape, the grain consistently parallels the angles of the bowl's exterior, providing a window into the interior workings of briar. That grain culminates at the heel, where grain strands meet and become birdseye. If you like reading briar, this piece has a library's worth waiting for your perusal.