Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Bent Dublin 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. This bent Dublin is an extremely demurely curved piece from the Italian artisan, its silhouette reminiscent of the Horn in its gently flowing lines. A wide transition gives way to a lengthy, slowly tapering, ovoid shank met by a trim and demurely curved saddle stem of subtly curved black acrylic. Up front, the bowl stands atop a sweeping heel, its walls taking on a measured flare out to a broad, flat rim while canting forward dynamically. Said walls surround a capacious chamber and offer comfort in the hand thanks to its easy contours. 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.