Il Duca: Sandblasted Morta Apple (B) Tobacco Pipe

Max Rimensi is certainly no stranger to crafting pipes from morta as the material offers many practical benefits, not the least of which is its light weight, though many enjoy the medium for its aesthetic appeal as well. When sandblasted, morta can bring out truly fascinating grain patterns, often yielding tight, neat, and even striations all about the bowl. It's readily evident on this Apple, with waves of grain radiating from the bowl's fore and wrapping around the flanks, unveiling captivating grain patterns that are unique to the medium. Shape-wise, this design is a familiar Il Duca form, pairing a squat, chubby bowl to a pinched shank that gradually flares outward toward the stem. Along with the sandblasted finish, the stem is one of my favorite features about this piece. The brindled vulcanite ring creates the illusion of a mount though is actually affixed to the stem's base, its forest green hues adding some vibrant color to the stummel's all-black palette.