Il Cerchio: Smooth Canadian with Spalted Oak Tobacco Pipe

In 2014, Angelo Del Prete took over a tobacco shop. However, the shop was lacking in high-quality pipes, so Del Prete decided to fix that problem himself and began his career as a pipe maker. Looking to expand his skill set, Del Prete visited and learned from two of Italy's most talented pipe makers, Max Rimensi of Il Duca and Davide Iafisco. Today, Del Prete has cultivated his own style, one with Italian roots but also inspired by Danish aesthetics. Del Prete prioritizes compositional harmony and deft engineering, which are represented by the Il Cerchio name, which means "the circle" and represents balance — from traditional shapes to inventive Freehands these aesthetic pillars define every Il Cerchio pipe.

Although Il Cherchio is an Italian workshop, this Canadian exhibits a traditional Anglo-French aesthetic, primarily at the bowl, where supple curves and marked taper to the rim look like a model Billiard bowl from an English shape chart. The bowl's shapely features are enhanced further by a cheeked transition, creating a clear-cut outline of the classical profile. At the other side of the transition, an elongated oval shank emerges, which displays a subtle vertical taper that extends all the way to the vulcanite stem. The broad shank-and-stem arrangement terminates at a sizeable bit, creating a comfortable clench while one smokes this classic pipe.

Additionally, the stummel is dressed in a stunning contrast stain that highlights an exquisite grain pattern. A stripe of sweeping cross grain runs down the top of the shank, up the aft of the pipe, down the fore, and along the underside in a continuous, unbroken streak. The cross grain frames the mesmerizing swaths of birdseye on the flanks and the small ripples that flow down the thin sides of the oval shank. The cross grain and birdseye shine in a dazzling contrast stain that pairs inky hues with bright auburn flourishes. The resplendent stain is matched with a band of spalted oak on the stem, which provides a natural, earthy contrast to the extraordinary colors on the stummel.