Il Cerchio: Sandblasted Natural Apple with Mammoth Tobacco Pipe

Within his tobacconist shop in Pordenone, Italy, Angelo Del Prete handcrafts Il Cerchio pipes with careful, exacting detail. His philosophy is defined by harmony and balance, with his pipes' namesake translating to "The Circle" from Italian. Angelo Del Prete has been selling artisanal pipes since 2014, but it wasn't until 2018 that he would make his first foray into fashioning his own pipes. Wanting to improve his craft, he would later seek the assistance of Italian pipe makers such as Massimiliano Rimensi and Davide Iafisco, whose mentorship would help engender Del Prete's discerning eye. Since releasing his first pipes to the public in 2020, he's come to cultivate his own unique style, drawing on Italian and Danish design sensibilities with his playful proportions and elegant line work.

With its petite build and lightweight figure, this Apple from Il Cerchio is a more reserved piece from Angelo Del Prete, showcasing his precise craftsmanship within diminutive Nosewarmer proportions. The bowl is squat and plump, formed by sturdy walls curving from heel to rim. An arrow-straight shank transitions from the bowl, joined with a vulcanite saddle stem to create a sleek profile. A staple throughout much of Del Prete's portfolio is his penchant for exotic accents, as seen here with a broad band of mammoth adorning the stem's base. Contrasting the accent's rich, dark hues is the stummel's natural sandblast, which dresses the briar in a light, earthy complexion.