Claudio Cavicchi: Brown Smooth Bent Pot 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 bent Pot is an understated shape overall, yet it maintains an air of neoclassicism thanks to its robust bowl, here sat atop a firm heel. Said bowl boasts thick walls and an easy flare toward its rim, the rim's softly domed shape here marked by a crisp beadline. Out back a wide transition gives way to a lifted shank that tapers softly toward a demurely curved, black acrylic saddle stem whose sleek look places further emphasis on the bowl. Dressing this pipe is one of Cavicchi's warm chestnut stains, unveiling a dense array of flame grain wrapping the bowl.