Rossi: Vittoria (8602) Tobacco Pipe

Trimmer and more lithe than is usual in typically robust Italian pipe design, Rossi's "8602" (and by default, Savinelli's "602") is a bent Billiard with more of a Danish flair, especially noticeable in the sweeping curves of the silhouette and slight taper of the bowl toward the rim. The proportions between bowl and shank, though, return us to bowl-centric Italian territory, contributing to a bold, sporty, and active character, as appropriate in a sports car as in an armchair.

Rossi's Vittoria line is a no-nonsense series that prioritizes timeless traditionalism and a conservative presentation that draws focus to this pipe's line and form. Marked by a dark stain and rugged rustication, the Vittoria offers just the right amount of texture in hand. It remains balanced between traditional Italian and English pipe making styles — the rustication calling to mind the dramatic, extra-craggy finishes often seen throughout Italian pipe making, but the lighter depth hewing closer to the stately English aesthetic — with the dark palette and grooved surface hiding any handling marks this piece might pick up over the years.