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COMMENT:
I simply can't start this comment without making a confession. I have been in love with this pipe ever since I saw it the first time! It's funny how it is with pipes. If you get hooked on a pipe in the first 10 seconds when you first see it, chances are that you will be still hooked on it at any time in the future, and regardless of how much time has passed. What is even more funny is that no matter how hard you try to find things about the pipe that you don't like, trying hard to get it out of your system, you just keep sinking and sinking into that initial impression. It's like quick sand; if you want to get out alive, stop moving!
In all my years as a pipe smoker, collector, and retailer, I have seen only a handful of pipes that can match this one when it comes to complexity and uniqueness. I'm honestly very perplexed as to why Max Rimensi didn't stamp this pipe with his highest and most prestigious grade: Collection! Anyway, let's talk about the shape for a while. I decided to use the term "Freehand" only to be as fair as possible to the exceptional design here; however, if I really have to come up with a more familiar term to define the shape, I would probably go with Freeform Dublin. If you manage for a second to remove all the complex characteristics of the design, you may see that the plain shape of the bowl is that of a Dublin. Max created two parallel and deep grooves, one running down the bowl from either side; they then find their way onto the shank, dictating what shape it (the shank) should take. If you look at the bowl from above, you see that the groove actually started not from the edges of the bowl rim, but rather from the inner edge of the tobacco chamber; this means that the bowl top function as a mental and visual predictor of what is to happen to the rest of the pipe. The bowl diameter at the top is 52mm (2.1"), whereas it becomes a mere 31mm (1.22") at the base. While the bowl is 53mm (2.1") in height, the shank is only 26mm (1.02") in length, including the shank insert. The shank insert is made of two layers: a ring of a dark wood (probably, palm wood), followed by an olivewood insert that naturally takes and complements the shank shape that was formed by the two grooves of the bowl. As Max wanted the shank to be as slim and thin as possible, and in order to make sure that the design is solid and durable, he fitted the inside of the mortise with a while acrylic tube, in which the tenon fits snugly and comfortably. The big surprise here, and one of the best and most intriguing touches, lies in the shape of the mouthpiece. Apparently, Max likes the effect that the two grooves had on the shank, and so he decided to let them dictate the shape of the vulcanite mouthpiece as well. I hope the numerous pictures I provide here will show exactly what all this gibberish means!
The grain is both well-pronounced and uniform all over the pipe, with mainly Flame Grain around the bowl and breathtaking Bird's Eye on the bowl top and base. I love the dark and vivid stain that Max applied here, since it both brought out the best of the grain and at the same time, managed to stands in great contrast with the shank inserts and the mouthpiece.
What I'm trying to say here is that don't worry if you decide NOT to buy this pipe; you most certainly WON'T break my heart ;-) |
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