Ser Jacopo: Domina 2022 Spongia Rusticated Bent Apple with Silver (R2) (D) (34) Tobacco Pipe

An annually released limited edition series, Ser Jacopo's Domina line comprises a single shape across various finishes, with the shape itself varied every year. The line has become something of a tradition, with a new iteration having been produced each year since 1996, every one distinct from the ones that have preceded it, for instance, the shape made for 2021 was a singular Calabash interpretation. For 2022, however, the Italian workshop has presented us with this extremely unique take on the bent apple, its build adorned with a band of silver at the junction that's carved with a stylish pattern, as well as Ser Jacopo's name and the year.

I'm immediately struck by the sinuous curvature of this piece, as it presents with a high-kicking shank and stem combination that's postured almost like a swan's neck. What I'm drawn to afterward, however, is the effect on the lines that this acrobatically inclined combination has, as the bit plunges downward, the slow taper of shank and stem lending this steep slope a feeling of acceleration as it reaches toward the fore. This then terminates in a sharply defined, forward-facing spur that pushes out past the underside of the bowl, with the entire shank acting as a cradle to the bowl as well, allowing it to stand rather stoically in the midst of this growing momentum. The undercurve present here is consistent, continuous, and alluring, further emphasizing the curvature of the pipe as a whole, and the walls of the bowl further this, being supple, full, and rounded. This lends it a comfortable feel in hand, of course, and its placement gives me the impression that there is a great deal of potential energy directly underneath it, making for an eminently active profile that is a pleasure to behold.

This particular variation of the Italian workshop's pipe of the year is wearing the crisp texture of their Spongia rustication, its craggy surfaces left a natural color that's sure to take on the bespoke hues of patination as it is smoked. Contrasting the palette of the stummel, the shank end band stands out in vibrant contrast, its silver adding a touch of elegance to the playful profile on display here, the shaping and stature making this avant-garde piece one of the most striking of all the Domina series.