Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Tomato 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 Tomato. For a Cavicchi pipe, this is a rather classic piece, showcasing a silhouette that's somewhat reminiscent of the Prince in its agile, graceful combination of shank and stem. The transition is wide and low-set, giving way to a subtly lifting shank that tapers gently as it reaches toward a similarly tapering stem of demurely downturned black acrylic. This pairing poises the pipe for more comfortable smoking and lends the profile an understated fluidity, which naturally balances the presence of the bowl in concert with this composition's continuous undercurve. Up front, the bowl stands atop a broad, rounded heel and grows thick, plump walls that showcase ample curvature around the flanks and cant forward subtly. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's signature inky sandblasts, the stummel showcases rippling ring grain flowing down the briar, with streaks of visible flame grain standing out for added appeal.