Claudio Cavicchi: Black Sandblasted Bent Brandy 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. This bent Brandy is a plump, supple pipe that boasts ample rotundity around its bowl and a charmingly chubby look overall. The transition is wide, and it gives way to a lifting, extended shank that reaches out toward a short saddle stem of black acrylic, poising this piece for comfortable smoking. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded heel and grows thick, curvaceous walls that take on an arcing taper to the rim and offer plenty of contours to appreciate 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 and a smooth rim for added intrigue.