Ardor Urano Fantasy 2023 Rusticated Blowfish Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Like many Italian workshop brands, Ardor pipes are a family affair. The name itself is an acronym of Angelo Rovera and Dorelio Rovera, father and son pipe-makers who created the brand in 1972. The Rovera family’s history with pipes goes back much further, however, as Angelo’s own father, Francesco, had previously established the Sociedade Rovera pipe company with his brothers in 1911. All Ardor pipes are completely hand-made from briar that has been seasoned for at least 4-5 years, and the brand is noteworthy for its playful and innovative approaches to design. As a result, Ardor pipes are both quintessentially Italian, while also being somewhat different, having a style that is wholly their own.

The Roveras’ Ardor make has a large variety of rusticated finishes. Some, like the Alvere, are spiral carved. Some, like the Meteora, are interlaced with smooth sections, resembling ancient brickwork. The Urano series is the Roveras’ own version of high-grade Italian pebble-dash rustication, comparable to Castello’s Sea Rock or Radice’s Rind Finishes, but typically more colorful. This Urano is a very unique shape for Italian pipes, that being the blowfish. In fact, this might just be the first blowfish I’ve seen rusticated in the Italian style. As part of the Fantasy subseries, it also features a sterling silver faux spigot and a ferrule cut from what looks to be an exotic hardwood.

The pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. It also comes with its original box and sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g