Mastro de Paja 0B Gigante Rusticated Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Like Castello, Mastro de Paja holds a special place in the world of Italian high-grade pipe workshops. Founded in 1972 by Giancarlo Guidi, the MdP team was soon joined by Giannino Spadoni and Bruto Sordini with the Guidi and Spadoni at the helm of the company until 1981. Guidi then left with Sordini to found Ser Jacopo, and Sordini would later leave Ser Jacopo to found Don Carlos. Spadoni, on the other hand, stayed at MdP until he also left, after which he founded Fiamma di Re. Today, Mastro de Paja is guided by Alberto Montini, with the workshop being known for both the manufacture of some of Italy’s most admired pipes, and for having launched the careers of some of its most respected artisans.

One thing I’ve really enjoyed about the more modern Mastro de Paja pipes is something many of them borrow from Irish pipes—specifically, Peterson pipes. If you’re a fan of Peterson and you’re looking at this pipe, you’ll likely spot it immediately: that slight gap between the base of the stem and the army mount mortise. Mark Irwin has talked about the origins of having this “space fitting” design on Peterson pipes, and how it was intended to close over time as the tenon wore down. These days, stem materials are more resilient, with such a gap being more ornamental (in design terms, a skeuomorph), or serving other purposes, such as allowing for a chain to hold onto the pipe when out and about. The latter might not be such a bad idea for this Mastro de Paja, as it is an example of the make’s uncommon “Gigante” series of over-sized pipes. It’s not quite a magnum, but it certainly has a great deal of heft to it, as well as a generous chamber.

The condition is great. Some minor wear to the rim, but that’s all I note.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.72″ / 43.68mm

Weight: 3.5oz / 100g