Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Acorn (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 Acorn. A handsomely angular pipe, this piece boasts a pronounced heel spur that supports its bowl, with this spur acting as the visual center of the composition. The walls of the bowl take on a subtle, Egg-like taper to the rim, complete with plenty of curvature to appreciate, with the rim itself showcasing a subtle dip in the center for an understated bit of shaping intrigue. A wide transition gives way to a slightly lifted shank that flares out to a domed face and is paired to a sleek stem of demurely curved black acrylic, the base accented with a pale material set behind a small, plump expansion ring before the bit. The bottom line of the shank and the fore line of the bowl both converge at the spur, naturally guiding the eye toward the heel and its pointed outline. 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- striated by visible bands of rippling growth rings.