L'Anatra: Sandblasted Duck's Head with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Since its establishment in 1998, L'Anatra has become a mainstay of Italian pipe making and an influential part of the Pesaro tradition. Evocative finishes, playful shaping, and exquisite silverwork typify L'Anatra's craftsmanship and reflect the marque's bold, whimsical spirit. There is perhaps no better encapsulation of L'Anatra's unique character than their telltale signature: a tiny silver duck head, found on every pipe stem. One of the brand's most unique shapes, the Duck's Head is a signature rendition of the Dublin that blends the shape with slight elements of the Hawkbill. The transition is slightly raised from the heel, as the shank takes on a swift, sleek taper toward the stem, its oval shape met by a similarly tapering stem of black acrylic. The bowl stands on a firm, pronounced, and rounded heel that supports thick, flaring walls as they expand out to a broad rim, with the heel featuring twin circular accents on the lower flanks that call to mind a duck's eyes. The illusion is complete when the pipe is flipped, so that the "eyes" are on top, with the sleek shank and stem representing the duck's bill. Dressed in a crisp sandblast and ruddy auburn stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout, contrasted nicely by a band of silver at the junction.