Il Duca: Sandblasted Billiard (B) Tobacco Pipe

Max Rimensi, the skilled carver behind Il Duca pipes, enjoys a reputation for being able to easily shift between the various schools of design, imbuing classic shapes with a re-imagined, more contemporaneous aesthetic, be it through stem material, design, or accent. Additionally, the Italian artisan prides himself in producing precisely engineered, highly functional smoking instruments built for durability and enjoyment.

This Billiard mixes Danish and Italian shaping cues, the softly rounded, supple, and ever-so-slightly tapered bowl poised at the end of a trim, subtly diminishing line of shank and stem, lending it a sleek, seamless, and aerodynamic profile. The bowl dominates the focal point of this composition, with the pencil-thin shank and slender stem stretching out languidly for juxtaposing proportions. The stummel is finished in one of Max's gorgeous signature, contrast-stained sandblasts, showing off a compelling array of vertical grain and growth rings, a testament to his keen eye for shaping according to the briar block's pronounced striations. A beautiful rendition of the Billiard, its light weight and slender style make it a perfect candidate for clenching.