Sandblasted Bent Apple (B) Tobacco Pipe

Formerly known as the American Pipe Making Exposition, our annual Global Pipe Making Exposition features contributions from some of the world's foremost artisans, all united around a central theme. One of the most exciting events of the year for carvers, smokers, and enthusiasts of briar alike, the Global Exposition acts not only as a showcase for the immense talent of these artisans but as a focus for the boundless creativity that these masters of the art possess. For 2026, the theme of our Expo is "The Art of the Sandblast," celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship behind one of the most meticulous finishing techniques in pipe making. Through the sandblast, these artisans transform the natural grain of briar into textured works of art, highlighting the unique character of each block and demonstrating the artistry of the technique.

As skilled in carving beautifully organic forms as he is in coaxing out the briar's grain with a lovely sandblast or a smooth, lustrous sheen, Max Rimensi of Il Duca has devoted decades of his life to the art of pipe making. For this year's Expo, Rimensi has, of course, presented us with a beautifully sandblasted offering — one that speaks strongly to his signature shaping style. The bent Apple is no stranger to the artisan's portfolio, and this iteration pairs a plump, moderately sized bowl to a flaring, gracefully upturned shank joined by a saddle stem with shallow, almost wafer-thin shoulders that keep the focus on the expertly sandblasted stummel. Rippling growth rings cascade down the bowl, enhancing its already inherently organic form, and they also emanate across the shank, rendered in vivid tactile detail and dressed in a warm yet smoky color palette. An excellent demonstration of Rimensi's sandblasting skill, and a thoroughly "Il Duca" shape to boot, I am hard-pressed to imagine a more fitting submission from the artisan for this year's Expo.