Ser Jacopo: Rusticated Rhodesian (R1) (D) (Maxima, Maxima, Maxima, Maxima) Tobacco Pipe

Founded in 1982 by Giancarlo Guidi, Ser Jacopo has built a reputation on crafting high-quality briars that are renowned for their robust proportions and playful shaping cues. The Italian atelier's style has since defined the Pesaro style of pipe making, each of their pipes imbued with a sense of character and reflecting the whimsical creativity that went into crafting them. This Rhodesian is part of the workshop's Maxima series, being stamped four times with the designation, designating it as a much larger piece than normal from the Pesaro carvers. At more than eight inches long, this pipe immediately commands one's attention, the striking substance of the pipe centered mainly on the bowl. A wide transition out back gives way to a thick, upturned shank that tapers slightly as it reaches toward a sleek, offset saddle stem of black acrylic, the combination offering a comfortable smoking posture. Up front, the bowl stands on a firm heel and grows remarkably thick walls that flare out to a high-set waist marked with a firm ridgeline, one denotes a swift taper to the smooth rim. More than three inches tall and nearly three inches wide, the bowl provides ample space to showcase a craggy, auburn-stained rustication: nicely contrasted the smooth rim and nomenclature panel.