Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Billiard with Spalted Beechwood (CCC) 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. A black acrylic stem tapers gently out of a lightly marbled shank accent of a peculiar-looking wood in this iteration of the Billiard. This is spalted Beechwood, noteworthy for its visual appeal, yes, but also for its origins, coming into being as fungus makes its way into dead trees: coloring the wood with dark swirls and lightening the surrounding area, making for a beautiful accoutrement to any pipe. This piece from Claudio Cavicchi is made all the more enchanting due to this addition, its decorated shank becoming one of the focal points of the pipe, right alongside the expert shaping by the Italian artisan and the rim's stylish ruby-tinged stain. The remainder of this pipe is dressed in one of Cavicchi's iconic honey-blonde finishes that showcases dense flame grain wrapping around the bowl and lining the shank, while the rim and underside are awash with birdseye: the impressive grain on display earning this pipe the carver's CCC-grade.