Brebbia First Light Rusticated Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, 9mm, Italian Estates

Description

Named for the company’s home township, Brebbia was founded in 1953 by Enea Buzzi, an alum of Savinelli’s manufacturing division. Still in operation 70 years later, Brebbia is one of Italy’s oldest extant pipe companies, with production still being undertaken using simple lathes and traditional methods of hand finishing. More recently, Brebbia has also collaborated with master artisan carvers from across to design some of its pipes, such as Denmark’s Rainer Barbi, Germany’s Otto Pollner and Holger Frickert, Italy’s Fausto Fincato, and Japan’s Tsuge.

I’m a big fan of Brebbia pipes, but I’ll confess, one thing that I did not know is why some of their high-end models were called “First.” In the English-speaking world, the word is associated with starter pipes, as in your “first pipe.” Brebbia’s First Calabash, for example, would not fit into that category. Having this Brebbia land on my desk, as part of our consignment program, finally gave me the encouragement to find out. Luckily, the Buzzi family were more than happy to explain it to me. As it turns out, Brebbia’s “First” series are their “top quality” pipes, i.e., in the English sense of “first place.” Brebbia’s “Prima” series, on the other hand, are their entry-level pipes, i.e., in the English sense of a “first pipe.” That settled it for me, but as I already alluded, the quality of the pipes does also speak for itself. This one is a beautiful, stout billiard, partially rusticated in the quintessentially Italian pebble-dash style (the rim has been left tastefully smooth), with a sterling silver faux-spigot to tie everything together. I did think about keeping it for myself, but, alas, my duties to my consignor overrule that interest.

The condition is very good. There’s some darkening at the rear section of the rim, and a very small, superficial nick in the top of the stem. The pipe is chambered for 9mm filters as standard, but should accommodate a non-filter adapter if that is the buyer’s preference.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g