Sandblasted Calabash with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

In 2014, Angelo Del Prete took over a tobacco shop. However, the shop was lacking in high-quality pipes, so Del Prete decided to fix that problem himself and soon began his career as a pipe maker. Looking to expand his skillset, Del Prete visited and learned from two of Italy's most talented pipe makers, Max Rimensi of Il Duca and Davide Iafisco. Today, Del Prete has cultivated his own style, one with Italian roots but also inspired by Danish aesthetics. Del Prete prioritizes compositional harmony and deft engineering, which are represented by the Il Cerchio name, which means "the circle" and represents balance — from traditional shapes to inventive Freehands these aesthetic pillars define every Il Cerchio pipe.

This Calabash from Il Chercio displays a sinuous profile that extends the entire length of the pipe, from stem to rim. Said rim is broad and asymmetrical; a raised ridgeline encircles the chamber, with the inner section of the rim tapering inward to the chamber, and the outer section tapering outward to the walls. The bowl's walls taper dramatically inward as they flow away from the rim, forming the slim proportions of the classic Calabash stummel. Although the Calabash does not have a traditional transition, there is a defined transition here between the briar bowl and the bamboo shank, which flares outward as it flows toward the stem, consistent with the bowl's construction. The stem arcs back toward parallel, and the bit is positioned well below the bowl, resulting in a tilted smoking posture that lends well to both relaxed jaw-hanging and comfortable clenching.

Additionally, several disparate elements coalesce here to form an alluring combination of contrast and congruence. The bowl boasts thick, concentric growth rings due to the auburn-hued sandblast, which contrasts with the blonde color of the bamboo shank, but draws a textural parallel with its tightly packed knuckles. The rim wears a smooth finish of similar vivid auburn hues, displaying a freckled array of birdseye swirls. Out back, the jet-black vulcanite offers a familiar counterpart to the diverse features of the eye-catching stummel.