Albus et Niger Delecta Sandblasted Bent Apple with Silver (S1) (D) Tobacco Pipe

Based in Pesaro, Italy, and founded in 1982, the Ser Jacopo workshop has a long-standing reputation for innovation when it comes to Italian pipe making. The founder of Ser Jacopo, Giancarlo Guidi, defied convention when he established his workshop and began producing pipes that diverged from the Anglo-French shape-chart classics, instead drawing inspiration from fine art, and even daily life on the island of Pesaro. Until his passing in 2012, Guidi experimented with playful proportions and bold finishes, paving the way for a new style of pipe making that's still beloved today.

With its bold, hearty proportions and modern, black-and-white stem, this bent Apple certainly embodies the Italian marque's playful style. The bowl is charmingly plump, and the shank-and-stem arrangement is quite robust, despite the pipe's overall petite size. Apart from a small ring of smooth, auburn-stained briar near the junction and along the nomenclature panel, the majority of the stummel wears a dark, smoky sandblast that perfectly complements the black-and-white, pixel-like pattern of the stem and shank base. The ornate silver Delecta mount joins the two components together, and all together, they lend the piece a bold, eye-catching appearance.