Savinelli Autograph: Autograph Mignon Sandblasted Freehand Tobacco Pipe

Savinelli Autograph pipes are often commanding, large interpretations that make full use of select blocks of briar with dramatic styling taking prevalence over weight saving design cues, but the Mignon series comprises smaller pipes within the Autograph line, such as this trim Freehand that tips the scales at barely 25 grams. If you're a fan of the artisinal creations Savinelli's best carvers come up with when their creative potential is unleashed, but prefer smaller pipes that can be clenched or pocketed easily, this one is worth a closer look. The squat bowl is all curves, with concave sides and a rim and heel rounded to mirror each other when seen from the fore. The rim gets a little concave swale of its own, contributing to an overalls sense of dynamism, and a rippling sandblast reveals stacks of growth rings especially vibrant on the left flank.