Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Bent Dublin (Perla) 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. Among his pipes, two gradings reign above all others: the Perla and the Diamante. The Perla, while being slightly more obtainable, is still quite rare, and it is no surprise, given that Cavicchi's tenure has taught him what perfection looks like, and this bent Dublin certainly approaches perfection. There's a lovely bit of understated sinuousness present throughout this pipe's construction, with the shank and stem displaying this aspect most readily as they lift out of the wide transition. This transition leaves plenty of room to drape a digit, and the shank rises out of it with a subtle taper, that then meets a saddle stem of black acrylic that makes an understated downturn at the bit. The shank and stem's sleek shaping places further emphasis on the bowl, cementing it as the visual center of this pipe as it stands atop a sweeping heel. From here, thick walls urge forward dynamically and flare out expressively, expanding into a broad, plateau-crowned rim that's curved toward the aft side: lending this pipe a slightly organic element. Dressed in the Perla series' iconic, ruby-tinged stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout, with dense flame and straight grain flickering through the walls, while the underside reveals ample birdseye.