Claudio Cavicchi: Brown Smooth Volcano with Ivorite Tobacco Pipe

Claudio Cavicchi is truly a master of his craft, and his ability to coax the best possible grain out of every piece of briar will always astound me. Originally a farmer, Claudio was first inspired to make pipes after an order he placed for one with his local tobacconist took many months to fill. What resulted was not only a pipe almost exactly like the one Cavicchi was looking for, but a passion that has lasted nearly five decades, his first piece made in 1974. A world-champion slow-smoker with three titles under his belt, Claudio Cavicchi relentlessly seeks perfection in every pipe that he crafts, not only able to read grain exceptionally well, but able to engineer pipes that smoke magnificently. This Volcano is a lovely example of Cavicchi's work, presenting with a signature look that sets the transition near the middle of the bowl, situating the broad base of the shape directly under the bowl. Said base is an expansive oval that supports thick, tapering walls which rise up toward a sloping rim, the entire build taking on a forward lean that affords this pipe a dynamic posture. The transition is wide and leads to a short shank that flares out to meet a domed fitment of pale ivorite, acting as the junction to a stylized stem whose jet-black acrylic is demurely curved at the bit. Dressing this pipe is one of Cavicchi's warm chestnut stains, unveiling a dense array of flame grain wrapping the bowl and an expansive display of birdseye across the vast base.