La Biota Sandblasted Poker Artisan Briar Pipe, Antler Shank, Handmade in Italy [SOLD OUT]

Description

A graduate of Italy’s prestigious Academia della Pipa, Michele Sottocasa has been making pipes for over a decade under the la Biota name. Prior to becoming a pipe-maker, Sottocasa trained and worked as a designer and art director, and la Biota pipes continue this drive towards a distinct aesthetic vision. The name, ‘la Biota,’ originally derives from ecology, and symbolizes the deep connection between humans and nature – a connection well represented by the hand-made tobacco pipe.

This la Biota is a bit of an oddity in Michele’s catalog, as it is a far more ‘classical’ shape than I’m used to him making. It is, for all intents and purposes, a poker, or perhaps a cherrywood. At the same time I don’t think I’ve ever seen a poker whose shank is comprised almost entirely of a large section of genuine antler. In any case, it’s a beautiful composition, one made all the more so by the crisp, bird’s-eye grain sandblasting of the bowl, and the understated tan hue of the ebonite stem. A must-buy for lovers of the poker shape who want to add something a little different to their collection, this pipe would also make the perfect seasonal gift for the pipe smoking outdoorsman (or outdoorswoman).

Details:

Length: 4.8″

Bowl Width: 18.5mm

Bowl Depth: 1.5″

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g