Claudio Cavicchi: Brown Smooth Zulu 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. This Zulu is a unique take on the shape from the Italian artisan, one that showcases a more prominent fluidity through its silhouette than would otherwise be expected of the profile. Here, the wide transition gives way to a short, lifting shank that tapers slightly as it reaches for a slim saddle stem of demurely curved black acrylic: lending the aft side of this piece a flowing look that balances a bit of the bowl's visual weight. Up front, this bowl stands on a broad, sweeping heel and cants forward dynamically, growing thick walls that flare out toward an expansive, domed rim, nicely insulating a capacious chamber for comfortable smoking. Dressed in one of Claudio's deep, chestnut stains, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout — tight striations of flame grain surround the bowl and frame the flanks of the shank, while birdseye covers the underside.