Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Bent Billiard (CCCC) 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. His over 50 years of experience ensures that his pipes are not only beautiful, but expertly shaped and precisely drilled, and all of these are the case with this bent Billiard. This pipe is immediately reminiscent of Castello's iconic "55" shape, with a broad, bold bowl presiding over a firm, pronounced heel. Though this heel is significantly less chin-like than Castello's, the reminiscence is apparent thanks to the tapering combination of shank and stem that ebb out from the wide transition. Said combination lifts slightly out of the transition, and the stem takes on a subtle downturn, creating an aquiline posture that's similar to the Hawkbill. The bowl itself is extremely thick-walled, with nearly as much breadth as it has height, and its stout walls insulate a capacious chamber for comfortable smoking whenever this pipe is called on. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's iconic honey-blonde stains, this pipe has earned the carver's CCCC-grade, and it showcases a wealth of handsome grain, with dense bands of flame wrapping the bowl and plenty of birdseye to appreciate across the underside.