Graziano Tendi, Sandblasted Straight Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates [SOLD OUT]

Description

Tendi is the name used by Graziano Tendi, an artisan pipe-maker from Italy. Tendi became enamored with tobacco pipes as a teenager, before beginning to collect and restore them. After developing his restoration skills, Tendi turned his attention to making his own pipes, which he has continued to do for the last ten years. While Tendi makes pipes in a variety of styles, the majority of his works are traditional shapes in the English-French mold, which makes him quite rare among his contemporaries in Italy and abroad.

I’m a big fan of Graziano Tendi’s work. While I enjoy the strange and unique shapes produced by today’s artisans, I have a soft spot for the classics, which Tendi creates immaculately in his workshop in Italy. This one is a very traditional straight billiard, but as is evident from our pictures, it’s been crafted with a level of skill and attention to detail comparable to the late Bill Taylor, of Dunhill and Ashton fame. The sandblasting is simply superb – crisp, with a ring grain around the entirety of the bowl’s exterior. The restrained pairing of a ruby stain and cumberland stem ties the design together perfectly.

The condition is excellent. I can just about make out a hair of darkening on the back rim, but it’s very minor.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″

Bowl Width: 21.0mm

Bowl Depth: 1.6″

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g