Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Bent Dublin (CCCCC) 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 Pickaxe-like bent Dublin boasts a pronounced and curved heel which is spurred at the back near the transitional area, creating a well of visual focus that immediately draws the eye to the fore. Said spur supports a flaring bowl that expands expressively toward a plateau-crowned rim, its thick walls offering comfort in hand thanks to their ample rounding. A rather wide transition gives way to a subtly lifting shank which is married to a demurely curved saddle stem of jet-black acrylic, offering a comfortable smoking posture. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's iconic honey-blonde finishes and graded five "C"'s out of five, the bowl is wrapped in dense flame grain and is representative of some of Cavicchi's best work.