Sandblasted Acorn with Silver (B) Tobacco Pipe

Max Rimensi of Il Duca crafts a diverse range of shapes, more often than not offering unique renditions of traditional designs that, when paired with the Italian artisan's keen eye for finishes, make for some sophisticated and handsome pipes. All of these attributes are present in this Acorn shape, with a flared, softly inflated rim giving way to a steep taper that results in a svelte, flattened heel, enabling the piece to sit quite sturdily. This heel, extending well past the transition, displays the playful shaping choices that make Rimensi's work so captivating, as the bowl cants forward in its sitting position, its rounded curves and soft features invoking the Danish school of design paired with a strong degree of organicism. Out back, the sinuous, high-kicking shank ends in a bright band of sterling silver that adds a flash to the dark complexion of the sandblasted finish before giving way to a gently arcing tapered stem. The low-profile sandblast offers a rich, yet light, texture to stimulate the fingers as it draws out the tight bands of growth rings underneath the sweeping flame grain of the stummel. The black stain drapes the poised, sleek profile in deep shadows that draws the eye in to better admire the nuanced details of the piece.