Il Cerchio: Sandblasted Prince with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Il Cerchio pipes (meaning "The Circle" in Italian) are handmade by Angelo Del Prete in Italy. He began carving pipes in 2018, after operating his own tobacconist's shop for several years. An experienced wood worker, Del Prete received instruction from Massimiliano Rimensi and Davide Iafisco, learning much from his early mentors and cultivating a style deeply influenced by the Danish masters, as well as contemporary carvers from the United States. A martial artist as well as an artisan, Del Prete draws inspiration from such techniques to create a style marked by balance and dynamism.

This Prince is a robust, organic rendition of the timeless shape, displaying a typically Italian emphasis on the bowl, while the finishing work shows off Del Prete's Danish influences. The bowl is broad and plump, resting on an expansive heel that allows the pipe to sit comfortably upright, while the walls taper curvaceously up to a sleek, domed rim. Out back, a defined transition gives way to a brief bit of shank before joining a lengthy section of bamboo, rendered four sleek knuckles stained dark to better complement the earthy hues of the stummel. Said shank culminates in a deftly rendered saddle stem of swirling cumberland, offering a pleasing accent to the stummel's walnut-hued sandblast, which reveals a wealth of rugged ring grain around the bowl, while the smooth rim shows off a touch of fine birdseye.