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

Max Rimensi, the carver behind Il Duca pipes, is a true student of pipe making, and as such, he takes inspiration from a wide range of design schools. Design cues from Danish, Italian, and Anglo-French pipe makers can be found in Rimensi's work, but that's not to say Rimseni is unoriginal. Rimsensi takes his various influences and elevates them through his personal creative vision, resulting in truly original work that dazzles with its sophistication and elegance.

This Shield is an excellent example of Rimensi's craftsmanship and eye for precise shaping. As is common for the form, a crisp ridgeline wraps around the bowl, descending from the rim, forming a spur-like heel, and ascending the other side back to the rim. This pronounced ridgeline lends definition to the bowl's otherwise curvaceous form and accentuates the fore wall's slightly raised posture. The bowl's muscular build is balanced at the end of a slender shank-and-stem arrangement that curls ever-so-slightly downward toward the bit for a comfortable smoking posture. The shank is extended by three knuckles of dark bamboo whose complexion and naturalistic character perfectly complement the stummel's finish. Said finish is a black-and-red contrast sandblast that gorgeously highlights clusters of birdseye across the bowl's fore.