Lithos Rhodesian (YY) (Titania) Tobacco Pipe

Sicilian brothers Elio and Guido Rinaldo moved to Pesaro and started working with Mastro de Paja in the mid-1970s, founding their own titular brand in 1987. They produce about 1,500 pipes a year using briar from Liguria in northwestern Italy, and grade them from one to four Y's, or the highest grade, Fiamatta, denoting excellent flame grain.

This YY-graded Rhodesian adheres to Rinaldo's Titania sizing — that is, it's quite large for its shape. The towering bowl is two inches deep and large enough on the outside to nestle perfectly into the palm, something you'll likely want to do over and over again because the rustication is at once smooth and deeply ridged for a very unique touch. More rustication dresses the muscular shank, which is relatively brief in length and quickly interrupted by the stem. The stem takes on a unique flourish with an acrylic disc that sits close to the junction, giving the piece a final, remarkable flash of intrigue.