Sandblasted Poker with Bamboo (Turtle) Tobacco Pipe

Much like a Poker we previously received from Gabriele Dal Fiume, this offering pairs a cylindrical bowl to an upward kicking shank and stem arrangement. While this particular piece marks just the third time we've seen the Italian carver take on the Poker shape, I think this might just be Garbiele's finest interpretation of the beloved utilitarian design thus far. The bowl displays a dramatic degree of forward cant and features a flattened, slanted base, allowing this piece to sit stably on flat surfaces. The stummel's been treated to a crisp sandblast that displays tight, rippling waves of ring grain that creep all the way up the bowl before ending at the softly rounded rim. It's all expertly dressed in a smoldering, Bengal-striped contrast stain, further enhancing the grain's visual presence. The base has been left smooth to showcase a sea of swirling birdseye, finished in a warm stain to complement the rest of the bowl's fiery tones. Gabriele has then extended the shank with two trim knuckles of pale bamboo, the lighter tones of the organic medium perfectly standing out against the bowl's darker color. It's then topped off with a cumberland stem, the rounded base of which mimics the rim's inflated disposition. It's a charmingly compact and lightweight take on classic shape that showcases Gabriele's distinctively unique style that sets him apart from his fellow Italian pipemakers.