Sandblasted Cherrywood with Silver (Calypso) Tobacco Pipe

Italian artisan Simone Gaudenzi combined his two great loves, pipes and the sea, when conceptualizing his brand, Valbruna. Before becoming an independent artisan, 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 are all readily evident in every pipe he produces. Moreover, his grading system heavily centers around aquatic themes; even "Valbruna" is a reference to the legendary underwater city of the same name.

Designated as a Calypso, this Cherrywood from Valbruna possesses an especially unique silhouette that perfectly demonstrates Gaudenzi's penchant for whimsical, Pesaro-style shaping. The bowl exhibits rather Pitcher-like shaping, with a broad, flaring base, and a cinched appearance just below the rim, which juts out at the fore in much the same manner as the spout of a real-life pitcher. In addition to the aforementioned flourishes, the bowl also exhibits a dramatic backward slant, adding to the pipe's overall striking appearance. Out back, a short shank with a subtle, spur-like appendage emerges from the tight-knit transition with an almost vertical trajectory, sending the acrylic stem arcing high into the air. This positioning of the shank and stem furthers the composition's lively sense of movement and promotes a relaxed posture while puffing. Dressed in a dark, inky sandblast, save for the lightly colored pops of plateau along the bowl's thick rim, the stummel showcases a plethora of tightly stacked ring grain, which radiates outward from the heel of the bowl. A band of silver ties the ensemble together, accenting the junction between shank and stem and adding an elegant dose of flash and sleekness to the otherwise rugged dress of this Cherrywood.