Autograph Sandblasted Bent Pot (6mm) Tobacco Pipe

Achille Savinelli set out to break the Italian government's monopoly on tobacco when he opened his own smoke shop in Milan in 1876. Though clay and meerschaum ruled the pipe market in those days, Achille had faith that the briar pipes he designed and had manufactured in Varese would make a breakthrough, and he was right. Production of Savinelli pipes continues to this day, with its Autograph line representing the company's finest products. The line's incredibly high standards, including specially-selected briar, limit the number of Autographs Savinelli can make each year. Savinelli grades its best Autographs on a descending scale of 000, 00, and 0, followed by 8, 6, 5, 4, and 3.

This Savinelli Autograph bent Pot is sandblasted in a manner that accentuates the flame grain of the bowl instead of overwhelming it, allowing it to be appreciated even through the dark stain. The left flank in particular displays a clear pattern of growth rings that extend from the bowl back to the shank, allowing this piece a sense of naturalism. Both shank and bowl are rather muscular to make this a sturdy piece in addition to being handsome. The stem is black acrylic with a slight bend most of the way to the bit, an elegant finishing touch for a work of pipe making that feels as sleek in the hand as it does to the eyes.