Caminetto 8.L.11 Partially Rusticated Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Caminetto was, and is to this day, a decisive figure in the history of Italy’s pipe workshop tradition. After spending time developing their skills in the Castello workshop, Sergio Ascorti and Luigi Radice left to found their own venture, which they named, ‘Caminetto.’ Here, Ascorti and Radice were able to create their own now-classic shapes and finishes, such as the rusticated ‘business,’ and the carved, wax-drip ‘new dear.’

While the great Italian makers have never hidden their admiration for traditional English and French pipe shapes, it would be a mistake to ever call them “derivative.” This Rhodesian from Caminetto is a perfect example of Italian neo-traditionalism. It is a Rhodesian, yes, complete with the shape’s typical bi-conical bowl and bead-lines, but look at the underlying curvature: see how the bowl arches seamlessly out of the shank, rather than effecting a sharp break between the two? These are lines more commonly drawn by a horn than a Rhodesian, with the result being a profile almost like the body of a gastropod. But this organicism is also coupled with a silver faux army mount, joining together the worlds of industry and nature. I’ll admit that the coded stamping (in this case “8.L.11”) on Caminetto pipes has, for the large part, always eluded me. I think the numbers 8 and 11 refer to the Business (rusticated) finish and the year of production (around 1996) respectively, or at least that’s what I’ve gleaned from the Pipedia writeup. The “L,” on the other hand? The only thing I could come up with was the common Italian pipe-making term, “Liscia,” used to denote smooth finishes? It is partially smooth, after all.

The condition is very good. There is some darkening on the pipe’s beveled rim, but nothing I’d call major.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 2.03″ / 51.56mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g