Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Bent Billiard 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 ensure 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 vaguely similar to the Hawkbill. The bowl itself is fairly thick-walled, and these walls take on a slight bit of taper as they reach for the flat rim, complete with just enough curvature for a comfortable feel in hand. The stummel here has been dressed in one of Cavicchi's excellent sandblasts and stained an inky black, Claudio's talent for shaping to the grain showcased in the wonderful ring grain that cascades down the bowl, complete with streaks of visible flame for added intrigue.