Smooth Brown Volcano with Ebonite Stem (Two Jellyfish) Tobacco Pipe

Simone Gaudenzi's brand, Valbruna, bridges the gap between the Italian artisan's two greatest passions: pipes and the sea. Before embarking on his solo career, Gaudenzi worked under the mentorship of Giancarlo Guidi at the famed Ser Jacopo workshop. During this time, he developed a keen eye for design and a deep appreciation for the whimsical Pesaro style. Now the founder of his own brand, his affinity for pipes, the sea, and the Pesaro carving style is evident in every pipe he produces. Moreover, his grading system is heavily centered around aquatic themes; even "Valbruna" is a reference to the legendary underwater city of the same name.

This Volcano from Valbruna offers an excellent demonstration of the playful Pesaro style. The heel is quite bulbous, and it's from there that the walls squiggle inward as the make their way to the dramatically tapered rim. Said rim is crowned with plateau, which adds a pop of rugged texture to the otherwise smooth, mahogany-stained stummel. Out back, the transition is so close-knit that the shank almost appears to be one with the bowl, jutting out briefly to meet the long, arcing stem of tapered vulcanite.