Claudio Cavicchi: Smooth Bent Apple with Ivorite (CCCC) 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 plump and delightfully stylized take on the bent Apple, this piece boasts a gentle bit of fluidity through its shank and stem, poising it nicely for more comfortable smoking. This pair lift out from a wide transition, the shank taking on an eye-catching flare as it reaches toward a broad accent of Ivorite, which marks the junction to a sleek black acrylic stem. This stem features a firm expansion ring at its base, drawing some emphasis toward the aft side and balancing the look of this piece understatedly. Up front, the bowl stands on a broad, rounded heel and grows thick, plump walls that arc smartly toward a flat rim while canting forward dynamically, while a spurred outcropping of briar at the aft side of the heel infuses this pipe with a bit of geometrical charm. Dressed in one of Cavicchi's iconic honey-blonde stains, this pipe has earned the carver's CCCC-grade, and it showcases a wealth of handsome grain, with contrast offered by the shank's pale Ivorite accent.