Castello Collection KKK Panel Lovat Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Founded in 1947 by Carlo Scotti, Castello quickly became known for producing some of the finest smoking pipes in the world. Over the years, the people involved in making Castello pipes has changed – such as Luigi Radice and Sergio Ascorti, who developed their skills in the Cantu workshop before leaving to start Caminetto, or the handing of the reigns of the company to Francisco ‘Kino’ Coppo after Scotti’s passing – but the superlative quality of Castello pipes has not. It is not without reason that Castello is known as ‘the Italian Dunhill.’

Castello’s Collection series pipes are always a joy to behold. Being on the higher-end of Castello’s already high-grade output, I don’t think I’ve ever come across one that wasn’t excellent. This Collection was even more enjoyable to handle, however, as it also happens to be a very rare design, that being an eight-paneled version of their Lovat shape. While Castello does occasionally offer paneled variants of their shapes, these shapes are typically shorter pots, and typically with a foursquare design. This, on the other hand, is the first time I’ve seen a shape like this, which would already be great, but the straight grain on this one makes it even more beautiful and even more distinct.

The condition is excellent. There may be one or two handling marks on the bowl, or this may simply be darker wood grain. The pipe has certainly been well looked after by its previous, single owner, who included its original sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g