G. Penzo Smooth Bent Egg Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Giacomo Penzo, known professionally as G. Penzo – is an artisan pipe-maker originally from Vicenzia, in Italy’s northeastern region. Coming from a background in industrial design, Penzo spent much of his free time during his college studies experimenting with pipe-making in his father’s workshop. Penzo’s efforts ultimately proved successful, with his pipes gathering so much interest that he was able to take up pipe-making professionally by 2015. Penzo was so successful, in fact, that in 2019 he was snapped up by Peterson to be one of their in-house pipe specialists. Today, Penzo divides his time between refining Peterson’s manufacturing processes and making his own G. Penzo pipes.

I have to admit, I was a little saddened when I heard that Penzo was joining Peterson. Don’t get me wrong – I love Peterson pipes and I imagine his presence there is highly valued, but this has meant that his own artisan pipe output has become more limited. Either way, his pipes remain outstanding, even if there are fewer of them available than I would personally like. This one is a lovely mixture of traditions: a tall, almost stacked, Danish egg dressed in a quintessentially Italian blonde stain. I really like the use of cross grain here, with the stummel lightly contrast-stained in a way that has its briar patterns swirling like clouds around the bowl. To this, Penzo has added a decorative ring – I assume boxwood – and a cumberland stem. Delightful.

The condition is excellent. The back lip of the beveled rim has some very minor darkening, but the pipe is otherwise pristine.

 

Details:

Length: 4.7″

Bowl Width: 21.9mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g