Castello Collection Great Line Freehand Dublin 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.’

At the end of the 1960s, the Castello workshop began crafting – or, at least, began formally designating – larger than average pipes in their various house finishes, often carved freehand in distinction from their loose shape chart. These pipes were dubbed “Big Line.” In 1972, Castello swapped this designation for “Great Line,” though the design philosophy remained the same (“Big Line” would later be taken up again to mark magnum-sized creations). This freehand Dublin is a Great Line rendition of one of Castello’s highest grade finishes, the Collection. Though not especially long, it is nonetheless a good chunk of beautifully grained briar, with a chamber nearly 5 centimeters deep and a plateau rim rarely found on typical Castello pipes. Judging by the Great Line designation and the lack of a date code stamp, this Castello will have been made at some point between 1972 and 1987, though as the pipe does not appear to have a grade stamp (either the uppercase or lowercase “K” used during this time), I would presume that the pipe is on the older end of that range.

The condition is very good. There’s some rim darkening, but it blends with the natural, rugged plateau burl very well so I would not consider it a significant issue.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.89″ / 48.00mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 66g