Piero Vitale Partially Sandblasted Brandy w/ Masur Birch (2 Star) Handmade Briar Pipe, New

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. Vitale’s brandy rendition is, like all of his designs, a highly distinctive one. While many of his shapes are plump and bulbous, his brandy is, curiously enough, closer to a volcano than those of both his Anglo-French and Danish counterparts. On the other hand, it is also eminently faithful to its namesake, with a bowl mirroring the bulging bottom and narrowing spire of a cognac snifter. As one of Vitale’s more compact creations, it’s also perfectly suited for every day carry, with a near-nosewarmer length and easily clenchable lightness in weight.   Details: Length: 4.9″ / 124.4mm Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm Bowl Depth: 1.58″ / 40.13mm Weight: 1.2oz / 36g