Castello Old Antiquari KKK 23 Apple 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.’

The shape “23” is Castello’s interpretation of the traditional English-French apple, but one that nonetheless stands distinct from that tradition. This iteration, made between the late-1960s and early-1980s, has a bowl far rounder and broader than most English or French apples, so much so that it borders on an Anse. One result of this design is a fairly wide bowl, which should handle mixtures – and English mixtures in particular – especially well.

The condition is excellent. There’s some very minor rim darkening and some slight handling marks on the bowl, but nothing major. This pipe came to us via our trade-in program, and comes with its original box and sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.63″ / 41.40mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g