Il Duca: Sandblasted Rhodesian with Bamboo (B) Tobacco Pipe

Max Rimensi's particular style of pipe making is often hard to define in one simple term since the Il Duca carver's versatility and artistry allows him to move easily from one design school to another. Classic shapes, organic designs and eclectic pieces comprise his portfolio and all are pointedly functional and superbly engineered.

Rhodesians are among the Italian artisan's most popular designs, with this rendition especially lithe and elegant of form. The organic, rounded bowl is wrapped by a single, subtle ridgeline set high along the waistline and is more felt than seen beneath the low-profile, contrast-stained sandblast. True to the classic form, the bowl's flanks taper sharply toward the crisply angled heel. A much-abbreviated, pencil-thin shank is then extended by three dark knuckles of bamboo, the willowy, lithe aesthetic continuing through the elegantly tapered rim. Gently bent, the bamboo accent is a refreshing use of non-traditional material, a shaping cue fondly embraced by Il Duca.