Claudio Cavicchi: Brown Smooth Bent Dublin 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 Rhodesian-like bent Dublin boasts a pronounced heel that rounds off at the back near the transitional area, creating a well of visual focus that immediately draws the eye to the fore. This kind of rounded spur supports a flaring bowl that expands expressively toward a pair of beadlines that denote the domed rim, its thick walls offering comfort in hand thanks to their ample curvature. A wide transition gives way to a slim shank accented with twin bands of black acrylic in the middle, reaching toward a demurely curved saddle stem of jet-black acrylic: the base of the stem boasting an accent of briar whose stain matches the stummel. Dressing this pipe is one of Cavicchi's warm chestnut stains, unveiling a dense array of flame grain wrapping the bowl.