Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Pot (CCCC) Tobacco Pipe

Even a robust, rather straightforward saddle-stemmed Pot such as this, in the hands of a brilliant artisan like Claudio Cavicchi, is rendered into something elegant, acutely balanced, and brilliantly smooth. Rest assured though, this example still features the form's thick chamber walls, hearty proportions, and plenty of palm-filling substance. There's no shortage of gorgeous grain on the CCCC-grade piece either, all highlighted in one of Claudio's stunning, honey-blonde stains, with dense striations of flame and straight grain wrapping the bowl. The bowl itself is charmingly plump, with a low-set waistline and a slight bit of taper to the rim about its build which speaks to an elegant character. The shank here is quite interesting, as its flare toward the shank end is slightly more pronounced from an aerial perspective than in profile, lending the form a bit of dynamism which balances some of the visual weight of the bowl.