Il Duca: Sandblasted Pencil Shank Acorn (B) Tobacco Pipe

Beginning his career at 14, Max Rimensi of Il Duca has been honing his craft for decades. Taking inspiration from his birth city of Ferrara, Rimensi pays homage to his culture by naming his grading system after aristocratic titles from the same city. Rimensi's pipes vary in shaping style, spanning from traditional Billiards to unorthodox Freehands. This particular Acorn from Il Duca maintains a lightweight profile despite its length, measuring at almost six and a half inches long. The fore of this piece is squatter than the shape-chart standard, as the bowl's walls rise from a lifted heel and flare dramatically toward the rim, creating a broad silhouette. Said bowl houses a compact tobacco chamber, making this an ideal option for short and satisfying smoking sessions. An acute transition gives way to a trim shank-and-stem arrangement that gradually tapers to the bit, with the latter cut from jet-black vulcanite. The sleekness of the mouthpiece juxtaposes the craggy sandblasted stummel, which highlights impressive grain and provides ample texture throughout.