Il Duca: Sandblasted Natural Bent Apple with Black Palm (B) Tobacco Pipe

In 1990, Massimiliano Rimensi started to smoke a pipe, sparking an interest in how pipes were made. Already possessing some carpentry skills, Max visited every briar mill, workshop, and tobacconist he could find to learn more about pipes. Max began carving pipes under the name Il Duca, an homage to the medieval history of Ferrara, Italy, his hometown. Max's pipe-making portfolio includes everything from traditional Billiards to mind-bending Freehands. Furthermore, pipes with stylistic flourishes, a wide array of accents, and precise engineering define Il Duca's catalog.

This bent Apple by Il Duca possesses a pert, bulb-like bowl, its supple walls feeling plump when clutched while remaining nimble in hand. Out back, the rounded shank emerges from the sweeping, low-slung transition and subtly rises to a flared accent fashioned from stunning black palm. From there, the stem eagerly bends downward, completing the sinuous profile that accentuates the bowl's jaunty posture at the fore. Moreover, the stummel is dressed in a rugged sandblast, highlighting undulating growth rings that foster an intriguing tactile appeal. Furthermore, the sandblast is dressed in a natural stain, which ensures that the stummel will develop a fine patina after one enjoys many bowls of tobacco.