Savinelli Autograph 0, Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

It is probably fair to say that Savinelli is Italy’s most famous pipe brand. Founded in Milan in 1876 by Achille Savinelli, the brand has continuously offered high quality pipes for nearly 150 years. Though various Savinelli lines have come and gone over the years, the brand has always been notable for putting out classically styled pipes with a distinctly Italian twist.

While most Savinelli pipes are machine-made in the Savinelli factory, their Autograph series are carved freehand in an on-site workshop, using artisan tools and techniques. These pipes are graded (somewhat confusingly) in ascending order: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 0, 00, 000. The ‘0’ grades are Savinelli’s most celebrated outputs from the Autograph workshop, and are on the rarer side. I think this might be the first ‘0’ I’ve personally handled, actually. It’s quite interesting; the shape and proportions remind me quite heavily of the Lane Era Charatan freehands, though this one has a certain Italian quality to it that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps it’s because this 0 grade Autograph is something approaching a freehand opera shape, though without the ovaline bowl.

The condition is very good. There’s a little bit of rim darkening, and one or two handling marks, but I’d say this is still a pipe fit to be prized by freehand and/or Italian pipe collectors, as it was intended to be.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.90 / 22.86mm

Bowl Depth: 2.11″ / 53.59mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 74g