Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Cherrywood 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. Though certainly carved in the neoclassical style, thanks to its impressive bowl presence, this Cherrywood is an archetypal take on the shape, complete with ample musculature and a sturdy build. The bowl here takes on a curving, cylindrical silhouette, its thick walls sat atop a flattened heel that supports the entire structure of the pipe in a stable sitting posture. The walls arc gently forward as they reach toward a flat rim, and they're paired to a slim shank via a wide, mid-set transition out back. This shank lifts and tapers softly while flowing out to meet the stem, a slender saddle of black acrylic, and the two afford this pipe a comfortable smoking posture and plenty of gestural charm. The stummel here has been dressed in one of Cavicchi's excellent sandblasts and stained an inky hue, Claudio's talent for shaping to the grain showcased in the rippling growth rings that cascade down the bowl.