Ser Jacopo: Rusticated Bent Apple (R1) (C) (Maxima Maxima Maxima) Tobacco Pipe

"Maxima" stamped bent Apples are not common sights from Italian workshop Ser Jacopo, though this particular example stands out even among those thanks to its unique profile. Not simply a part of the Maxima series, this pipe has been stamped thrice with the monumental moniker, designating an impressive reach which here extends to eight inches. The bowl of this pipe is more broad than it is tall, though both dimensions are well over two inches and offer an impressive presence in hand, the plentiful roundness of its plump walls keeping things soft. A wide transition gives way to a lifting, tapering, square-shaped shank that pairs to a demurely curved stem of jet-black acrylic that continues the taper of the shank. The sinuous flow of the shank and stem is balanced by the pairs paneling, with this added firmness additionally defining the bowl's contours more concretely at the flanks. Dressed in a craggy rustication and warm auburn stain, there's plenty of texture here for the fingers to enjoy, with contrast offered by the smooth nomenclature panel.