Il Cerchio: Sandblasted Bent Egg with Bamboo 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 skillset, 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.

This bent Egg by Il Cerchio is an exquisite display of his Danish influences. The shapely bowl possesses a pronounced forward-urging posture, which is further accentuated by the dramatic taper from the plump waist to the crisp rim. The bowl's form manifests a striking curve that sweeps from a direct descent along the fore into an upward bend through the transition. The short stretch of briar on the shank is paired to a thick piece of bamboo, which is highlighted by two rugged, bulging knuckles. Furthermore, the shank joins to a cumberland saddle stem that takes gracefully downturns to a comfortable trim bit. Additionally, the bowl is dressed in a warm, auburn-hued stain that serves as a complementary middle-ground to the blonde bamboo and the dark tones of the cumberland brindle, while also highlighting craggy growth rings in an superbly deep and detailed sandblast.