Ser Jacopo: Smooth Calabash (L1) (A) Tobacco Pipe

When one thinks of the Calabash shape, one usually thinks of deeply, sinuously bent silhouettes that are primed and ready to hang from the jaw, be they crafted from gourd or not. This iteration of the timeless shape is decidedly not that, and its straight profile comes to us from Ser Jacopo, a workshop well-versed in subverting expectations. The straight shank and stem here showcase a paneled outline which firms up the aft side quite a bit, and the saddle orientation of the stem lends it a touch of sleekness that emphasizes the presence of the bowl. Said bowl rises to over two inches in height and takes on a striking flare that's exaggerated by its iconic mushroom cap, the flattened underside its rests on allowing the entire pipe to sit stably. In addition, the hearty walls of the bowl serve as an excellent showcase for the dark chestnut stain dressing the briar, revealing dense streaks of flame grain all around, while the rim is peppered with birdseye.