Castello Old Antiquari GG 65 Large Sandblasted Billiard 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.”

It’s not everyday that you see a “GG” grade Castello—which is not one, but two steps above the the make’s modern “k” grading system—but looking at this one, can see why it turned out that way. It is a large and especially stout rendition of Castello’s shape 65 bent billiard, dressed in the Old Antiquari sandblast finish. Clearly the growth rings of the briar block used were especially suited for sandblasting, resulting in the exquisitely tight, ring grain seen on this pipe’s bowl. One downside to the “G” grades is that they make dating Castellos a little more difficult than usual, but as this one lacks a date code (introduced in 1987), I would presume it to have been made before then at the least.

The condition is great. Some very slight inner rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.11mm

Bowl Depth: 1.61″ / 40.89mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g