Gabriele: Smooth Saturn Peach (Nautilus) Tobacco Pipe

Gabriele dal Fiume has had a passion for pipes that stretches back many decades, ignited by the smoking of his father and uncle, something which inspired him, in time, to create pipes of his own. Dal Fiume has been carving since 1987, breaking into the industry with a history of research and development in mechanics, lending credence to his impeccable technical skills. Gabriele crafts pieces in various shapes and sizes, though all in his singular style, and has a very low production rate of around 60 examples per year, owing to his exacting standards for both shaping and smoking properties. This piece is quite a striking rendition of the Tomato shape, an iteration that Gabriele calls the Saturn Peach, a profile that thrives on its wealth of shaping detail, both subtle and straightforward in a clear depiction of its namesake fruit.

The overall shaping of this piece is nothing short of fascinating, with a good deal of measured exaggeration that truly sets it apart from other interpretations of the Tomato. While much of the exaggerated shaping here is immediately obvious, that of the shank is more understated, giving one pause as the aft of the pipe is explored, the shank itself ebbing out from a wide, mid-set transition. As it pushes out, the shank flares, vertically and horizontally, into a lenticular ovoid at its face which additionally takes on a domed look that rounds out from a firm ridge at the shank end. Both the ridge and the dome are very slightly asymmetric in outline, wavering just a touch in the former, while rising higher on one side in the latter, creating a nice locus of intrigue for the eyes to appreciate. Enhancing this effect is the stem, thanks to the base's domed expansion ring, its own ridge and rounded end stylistically mirroring that of the shank end.

Much like the eponymous fruit, the bowl of the Saturn Peach features a pronounced squatness and stoutness, with the rim being dipped to emulate the same kind of dip present on its namesake. In addition, there's a bit of asymmetricality here that is quite like the fruit as well, though serving to keep the shaping interesting and organic throughout the composition, a feat it's achieved remarkably well. The robust walls and supple rounding throughout the profile of the bowl keep things quite comfortable in hand, all while offering a wonderful canvas for the warm auburn contrast stain that dresses the stummel, revealing wrapping flame throughout the flanks, while the top and underside are awash with birdseye. The cumberland hues of the stem keep things looking warm, and the wideness of the bowl lends itself well to cradling in the palm, a beautiful contender for comfort pipe that has earned Gabriele's Nautilus grade, his highest.