Claudio Cavicchi: Brown Sandblasted Cavalier Tobacco Pipe

Traditionally speaking, the Cavalier is more characterized by its engineering rather than its exact shape, much like a reverse Calabash, meaning it can feature a variety of bowl shapes. Said bowl is fitted to a shank that extends beyond the heel, visually separating those two elements, and a functional Cavalier is one whose airway is drilled all the way through that shank, covered by a cap that can be removed to drain excess moisture. Such a construction does make for a distinct aesthetic, though, and many carvers enjoy fashioning pipes that emulate the classic Cavalier look but without that moisture cap. This is one such piece from Claudio Cavicchi, being a non-functioning Cavalier but one that beautifully reflects the iconic form. A robust, forward-urging, Brandy-like bowl dominates the profile, seemingly growing from out of the near-vertical shank for a deeply bent profile that balances this pipe's hearty proportions. It's all dressed in one of the Italian artisan's rustic sandblasts, revealing stunning grain definition, with a smooth rim lending contrast.