Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Barrel with Silver (CCCCC) Tobacco Pipe

A rare shape from Claudio Cavicchi, this Barrel is only one of a very few such designs we've seen from him, making this a most welcome presentation. The tall bowl boasts stout proportions, with a subtle taper seen above the mid-set transition, along with a flattened heel, enabling it to sit sturdily. The deep bend and high-kicking shank-and-stem arrangement offer a proportional balance in addition to promoting a comfortable smoking posture and rather sleek profile. The Italian artisan has dressed this in one of his light, honeyed stains, earning a full five "C" stamps for its quality shaping and grain orientation, with a dense array of flickering flame grain wrapping around the entire bowl, framed by clusters of birdseye at the rim and heel. Further commending this intriguing pipe is a generous band of silver, the Barrel shape and infrequent use of the gleaming adornment contributing to the unusual character of this piece.