Ascorti New Dear KS, Wax Drip Egg Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates [SOLD OUT]

Description

Ascorti belongs to a historic lineage in Italian artisan pipe-making. Guiseppe ‘Peppino’ Ascorti was first employed as a pipe-maker in the 1950s, in Carlo Scotti’s Castello workshop in Cantu. There he met Luigi Radice, and in the 1960s the two decided to leave Castello to create their own pipe-making workshop, under the name ‘Caminetto.’ At the end of the 1970s, Guiseppe Ascorti and Luigi Radice left Caminetto and once more decided to start new ventures. Luigi Radice founded the Radice pipe workshop, and Guiseppe’s son Roberto Ascorti, who had also worked in the Caminetto workshop since he was a child, decided to create a workshop under his own name. Roberto was joined not only by his father, but also many of the talented craftsmen who had formerly worked for Caminetto. In 1980, the Ascorti workshop was born.

This is an interesting example of Ascorti’s New Dear line, a finish the Ascortis brought with them from Caminetto after leaving to found their own make. The New Dear is Ascorti’s (following Caminetto) take on the ‘wax drip’ finish found in a number of Italian workshop makes, with each approaching the finish differently. Ascorti’s interpretation was always closer to molten wax than simply resembling a burning candle, which I personally think is a great approach. It evokes the substance without attempting to represent or imitate it – a far more difficult task in the world of art.

Anyway, the pipe is also quite distinct as far as Ascorti’s shaping typically goes. It has the asymmetrical, double-stepped lucite stem used as standard on Ascorti pipes, but the shape of the stummel is more freehand – perhaps a little Danish – than usual. It suits the finish particularly well in my opinion and makes the pipe fit especially well in the hand.

As for the condition, the rim is a little darkened from its past life, but this also could be a slightly fumed stain on the finish – I’m not sure which. Perhaps both. In any case, it only adds to the charm of this hand-carved Italian beauty.

 

Details:

Length: 6″

Bowl Width: 23.3mm

Bowl Depth: 2″

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g