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COMMENT:
Out of the 12 Baldi grades, this pipe here falls under the second highest (#11), with the highest (3 Crown), being so much of a rarity that it approaches the status of a myth. The more I look at this pipe, the more sure I feel that it reminds of a familiar shape; I have almost consumed my poor brains to put my finger on that illusive "thing", but I can't. For some reason, I have a feeling it has to do with a sea creature, but which one?! The simple and straightforward shape that comes to mind, though, is a "fan". Wait a minute! Could that sea creature be a seahorse? To see what I mean you need to look at third picture, from left, last row (upright position, with the mouthpiece at the bottom). What do you think?
The pipe, believe me, is MASSIVE. The bowl runs for a total of 115mm (4.53 inches), across from the outer rim of the bowl to the opposite rim that goes beyond the mouthpiece, in other words, across the pipe when you're looking at it from one of the two sides (the surface covered by Bird's Eye). The bowl is 62mm (2.44") tall. Considering how huge the pipe is, imagine how extremely large the ebauchon was before it was cut. The pipe can rest on a flat surface with no support, thanks to the large bowl base. It's kind of funny that I have this urge to talk about the shank, but there is no shank! The pipe is only two pieces, the bowl and the mouthpiece. Speaking of the mouthpiece, note the briarwood insert that Baldo adorned the mouthpiece with; if you know Baldo's work, you will agree with me that this is something quite rare for Baldo to do. A comment can never be complete without referring to the grain. What grain! As a big fan of Bird's Eye, I can only look at that absolutely and bafflingly huge stretch of some of the best and "cleanest" Bird's Eye I have seen to date with admiration and astonishment. The Flame Grain around the bowl does indeed complement the idea of a fan, and this is a first-class example of how Baldo does what most experienced pipe makers strive to do: Create a shape that follows and further enhances the natural grain of the pipe. I don't think this incredible and demanding task could ever be achieved better than in the example we see here. Though the pipe is huge and weighs a lot more than your average large pipe, it feels so well-balanced in the hand. This is very clear when I hold the pipe by the mouthpiece and shake it up and down. This means that I'm confident that you can clench on the pipe, if you so desire, without wrecking your teeth or breaking you jaw (and while spilling ashes all over your pants)!
This pipe has earned the 2 Crown Grade because it is the ultimate combination of an artistic, unique shape, large, with breath-taking and flawless grain, made by one of the world's foremost pipe makers, and most definitely the master of all Italian masters. |
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