The pairing of pencil shank and Apple bowl in this piece from Max Rimensi makes for a pipe that pits two completely opposite shaping cues against each other. On the one hand, the slender, streamlined shank-and-stem combination offers a sleek, diminutive aesthetic. In contrast, the squat, bulbous nature of the bowl adds a bold, solid presence. The paradoxical pairing works well here, making for a piece that's at once substantial in hand and thick of insulating walls while remaining impressively lightweight and marked by a refined sense of elegance in profile. With a metal tenon and craggy sandblast, this piece testifies to Il Duca's quality craftsmanship and gorgeous finishing, all dressed in an unstained natural finish and paired to a brindled tan and taupe vulcanite stem.

— Adam M. O'Neill