Viprati 5 Clover Smooth “Cup and Saucer” Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Much like in Denmark or Japan, many of the great names in Italian artisan pipe-making got their start working for other greats in their famous workshops. This was the case for artisans such as Giancarlo Guidi, Luigi Radice, Sergio Ascorti, and Maurizio Tombari. Luigi Viprati, on the other hand, is one of the few self-taught Italian pipe-makers of the 20th century to have reached the same heights as such contemporaries. First picking up the craft in 1972, Viprati would ultimately become one of the defining names in Italian pipes, which he remains to this day.

For the uninitiated, the “cup and saucer” was a Charatan shape—or, more accurately, a genre of shapes—and one of the very first freehand designs sold by the company. Conceived by a young Barry Jones as a means of rescuing a large stummel with conspicuous briar imperfections, Jones shaved away a significant portion of the wood around the bottom of the bowl, resulting in a pipe that resembled a “cup” (the upper section of the bowl” sitting on a “saucer” (the base section). Reuben Charatan was surprised and impressed in equal measure, and similar designs were produced many times over the years. And, of course, as with any great shape, other pipe-makers have produced their own renditions in the decades since, from Michael Parks to Castello. Here we see Luigi Viprati making his own version, and it is quite spectacular. Had the pipe been made at Charatan, I imagine it would have attained something like one of the Supreme grades, or even one of the Achievements. As it is a Viprati, it earned a full five out of a possible five quadrifoglio (in English, “four leaf clovers”.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and one spot of char on the inner rim, along with some very slight handing marks, but the pipe has nonetheless been well looked after, as it should be.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 1.00 / 25.40mm

Bowl Depth: 2.07″ / 52.57mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 74g