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COMMENT:
Of course, and being a Diamante, this pipe is as special as Cavicchi pipes can be. This statement is most definitely true when it comes to grain; after all, "Diamante" stands for Straight Grain. Having said that, the uniqueness of this pipe doesn't solely and entirely stem from the grain pattern that nature has provided. The shape design is a very important aspect of the uniqueness of this pipe, and this is the work of the maker. In other words, and in my humble opinion, this pipe is quite illustrative of the two aspects that make up a good or bad pipe, a beautiful or ugly pipe: the wood quality and the grain, on the one hand, and the shape design and execution, on the other hand. This pipe shows both sides of the story in the rarest and most outstandingly beautiful way. Let me first tackle the grain.
Most of the pipes out there would have at least in part a bit of Straight (or Flame) grain, and that is due to the way the ebauchon is usually cut (to allow for the straight lines to be around the bowl and the Bird's Eye on the bowl (and shank) top and base). The reason why Cavicchi, with his strictest grading criteria, decided to grade this pipe as Diamante is quite obvious. Claudio examines the directionality, the tightness, and the consistency of the grain around the bowl to determine the pipe grade, especially when it comes to the Diamante. As you can see, the grain is straight, running from the base of the bowl and covering all the rest of the walls, all the way to the bowl rim (directionality). It is also quite tight on the majority of the bowl surface, without any areas when the "veins" start separating one from the other to create a visual gap (tightness). The grain doesn't show large pieces of "bald" spots, round or otherwise, which are the primary cause of disruption of the Straight Grain (consistency). Another very important consideration for Cavicchi is the presentence/absence of natural, visible flaws, such as sandpits. Here, the pipe more than deserves the highest Cavicchi grade, even though there are a few very, very tiny, hair-like sandpits on the side of the bowl that faces the shank (see last picture, from left, second row); I had to use a magnifying glass to spot those and the close-up zoom of my camera to show them to you. I'm more than confident that once the pipe has been smoked for a while and has darkened that tiny bit, even magnifying glass wouldn't spot those sandpits any more. Claudio decided to keep the plateau top as it is, and I don't blame him. That part of the pipe is absolutely gorgeous, and in all my years as a pipe collector and retailer, I don't recall ever seeing a plateau top that is as uniform and tight as this one (maybe the same, but not better). It stands in great contrast with the smooth surface, which means it does indeed enhance the effect of the exquisite grain around the bowl.
As for the shape design, I have to point out that while the shape may look familiar, it has so many unique touches that make it the Diamante it is. The basic shape of the bowl is an elongated Bell shape, which is a derivative of the classic Dublin. To see why it is closer to the Bell than to the Dublin, you need to check out the difference in diameter between the bowl base and rim, which is 26mm (1") and 51mm (2"), respectively. Another important fact is that the bowl is slightly oval, with a diameter of 51mm (2"), from one side to the other, and 58mm (2.28"), from the other side across. The shank, in my opinion, is as much of a strong point in favor of the shape design as the bowl itself is. The shank is quite slim, which means it allows the bowl to stand out more. The shank starts at a diameter of 15mm (0.59"), at the bowl-shank joint, and goes up to 17mm (0.67"), before accommodating the mouthpiece; this very slight tapered effect has helped in creating a shank that, on the one hand, reflects and complements the bowl shape design (the Bell), and, on the other hand, paves the way to, and allows for, a saddle mouthpiece that is of a good, solid diameter and width. In addition, there is one incredibly difficult feature that Claudio achieved and that you rarely see: The bowl height is almost identical to the shank length (about 65mm or 2.56 inches). While most people would actually perceive the shank as a long one, at first, it is not; after all, and when we consider the classic Billiard, for example, the shank and bowl should be of the same length and height, respectively. Furthermore, a decorative touch that Claudio added is the double, black acrylic rings around the edge of the shank, which also serve the purpose of transitioning the eye from the natural color of the wood to the blackness of the mouthpiece.
A final word:
In my opinion, this is one of the best Diamante pipes I have seen to date, and that is for one reason: it is a testimony of those very rare occasions when man and nature both manage to show their work in the realization of a collaborative, artistically appealing object that serves a functional and practical reason. How often do you come across an item like that?! |
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