Piero Vitale Partially Sandblasted Dublin Pickaxe w/ Horn (2 Star) Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

As a child, Piero Vitale spent many an afternoon in the workshop of his grandfather, who was a carpenter and luthier. This proclivity for working with his hands translated into a number of artistic pursuits as he grew up, including painting and wood carving. Then Vitale was introduced to the world of handmade pipes by a friend and was immediately fascinated. The work of masters such as Tom Eltang and Kent Rasmussen showed that pipes could be true works of art while also being precisely engineered smoking instruments. For over a decade, Vitale has crafted his own hand made pipes, developing a distinct style that expertly balances form and function. This has led to partnerships with several Italian pipe companies (and MBSD Pipes), for which Vitale has provided designs, but his greatest achievements continue to be those pipes that he makes by hand alone in his workshop, in a small village in Lombardy.

It is often the case that, after many years spent in the craft, an artisan will have created idiosyncratic, “signature” shapes and studies that feature prominently in their output. Italy’s Piero Vitale is a little different, in that the majority of his output is taken up by his signatures—not replicas, but varied renditions of designs that he has spent countless hours creating and correcting. As a result, Vitale pipes are particular and precise, not entirely unlike the pipes that spring from his partnerships with some of Italy’s major pipe factories, but with an added layer of care and craftsmanship that only expert handiwork can provide.

The Dublin Pickaxe was one of Piero Vitale’s first signature shapes, and indeed one that would, for a time, be licensed to one of his Italian factory partnerships. This one, however, comes from his own hands, incorporating shaping cues and features not possible in a factory make. Distinguished by a graceful, downward bend from its mouthpiece through its long, pencil-thin, horn shank extension, the design sharply rises at the base of the shank, giving the pipe its hallmark “pickaxe” profile. From here, the bowl bursts out into a surprisingly organic figure, resulting in an almost floral appearance when considering the design as a whole. Two Star grade.

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm

Bowl Depth: 1.71″ / 43.43mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g