Il Duca: Sandblasted Natural Pot (B) Tobacco Pipe

Italian pipe maker Massimiliano Rimensi has developed a unique style that incorporates influences from the Italian and Danish traditions in impressive combinations. Rimensi produces his pipes under the Il Duca name in tribute to the history of his native city of Ferrara, once ruled by the dukes of the House of Este. This piece favors the Italian style with its exaggerated bowl and sleek shank, but Rimensi puts his own spin on it with the inclusion of a cumberland stem, adding strikign contrast and an intriguing visual texture. The sizable bowl houses a deep chamber in its thick insulating walls, ensuring a long, cool smoke. The Barone-grade stummel is dressed in a crisp sandblast and left in a virgin finish, allowing the pipe to develop a rich patina with time and use.