Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Horn 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 also expertly shaped and precisely drilled. A good example of the Horn, this piece from the Italian artisan is a sweeping and sinuous take on the modern classic shape that displays the form's iconic style of consistent expansion. The stem is the only exception, as its black acrylic saddle takes on a subtle downturn out back, though the shank showcases a gradual taper throughout its reach out of the open transition. Said transition is rather nebulous, which is to be expected of the shape, and it supports the bowl's sweeping heel and tall, expanding walls that cant forward as they flare out to a domed rim. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's signature inky sandblasts, the stummel showcases rippling ring grain flowing down the briar, contrasted nicely by the ruby smooth finish of the rim.