Ser Jacopo: Domina 2024 Smooth Bent Billiard with Silver (L1) (D) (12) 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 2023 was a gently sinuous take on the Tomato. However, 2024's shape is this bent Billiard, one that showcases a remarkable angularity and boasts a broad band of silver at the junction.

There's an impressive thickness present throughout the build of this shape, reflected in its hearty feel in hand and primarily displayed through the bowl. The transition is wide, with plenty of room to drape a digit, and it gives way to a rather long shank, which lifts and reaches out to meet the stem's demurely curved black acrylic saddle. This shank takes on a consistent taper throughout, slenderizing the aft portion of this pipe significantly and placing further visual focus on the bowl, enhancing the neoclassical character of the pipe greatly. Said bowl stands on a pronounced, rounded heel that extends down a bit to become lower-set than the transition, and it grows thick, insulating walls that rise, nearly cylindrically, to an undulating, asymmetrical rim that naturally draws the eye. The walls surround a capacious chamber, boasting a subtle bit of curvature to appreciate while smoking, and the underside is lined by an understated panel through the heel and shank. This panel allows the pipe to be sat stably, allowing it to be rested whenever necessary while introducing some firmness to the composition. This particular bent Billiard comes dressed in a smooth finish and warm, chestnut-hued stain, revealing a handsome array of grain and richly contrasting the band of silver at the junction.