Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Lovat (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. This is a unique rendition of the Lovat from the Italian carver, one whose shank boasts a dramatized presence that pulls some of the visual weight away from the bowl and subtly alters the proportions of the classic shape in striking fashion. The transition is wide, and it gives way to a very trim shank, though one that takes on an understated flare as it extends toward the stem, its extended reach resulting in a broad face. The shank's expansion continues into the base of the stem before it slips into a slender bit and tapers to the button, the slimness of the saddle focusing attention on the junction. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded heel and grows subtly arcing walls, complete with a slightly plump, mid-set waist that marks an understated taper to the rim. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's iconic honey-blonde stains, this pipe has earned the carver's CCC-grade, and it showcases a wealth of handsome grain, with plenty of dense flame surrounding the walls of the bowl.