Sandblasted Tomato with Horn (B) Tobacco Pipe

A common rendition from Max Rimensi of Il Duca, this Tomato exudes a lithe and fluid gesture in profile that pairs naturally with the plump, organic shaping of the bowl. Most characteristic of Rimensi's interpretation of the shape is the broad, bulging waistline of the bowl and how the aft side overhangs the neatly tucked transition. Such a shaping cue accentuates the bowl's bulbous nature, as if it's growing from out of the shank. The shank flares demurely toward the stem and is topped by a horn accent, marked by a creamy hues and a striated visual texture. Often times, Max fashions this shape from morta, but this piece is made of briar, wearing a crisp sandblast for vivid grain definition. The grain is brought out further by a striking contrast stain, a typical aesthetic of Il Duca pipes, with this one combing dark brown hues with rust-red tones for a rich, smoldering presentation.