Gigi Fiamma Smooth Flame Grain Panel Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked 9mm

Description

Gigi pipes occupy an interesting position in the history of Italian pipe-making. The story begins with the founding of Sociedade Rovera, a pipe-making company in Varese, Italy, by the Rovera family. As members of the Rovera family left to start their own ventures, the dynasty associated with the name would be split into several companies; Angelo Rovera created Ardor with his son Dorelio; Federico created Fe.Ro; Massimilliano created Mario Rovera; Fiorenzo created Gardenesa; and Giorgio created Giorgio Rovera, along with partners Angelo and Adele Bianchi. In 1964, Luigi Crugnola, nephew of the Bianchis, took over the Giorgio Rovera make and changed its name to his own – Gigi.

“Fiamma” is Italian for “flame,” with “fiammata” being roughly translatable to a sudden blaze. This is why, on higher-end Italian pipes, such as Castello’s or Viprati’s superlative smooth finishes, instead of “flame grain,” you’ll find “fiammata.” The same principle seems to apply to this Gigi. Though I haven’t been able to find this Fiamma series as being currently sold anywhere, from handling a fair few Gigi pipes in my time, this is the finest-grained I’ve handled so far, and the addition of a sterling silver band would further confirm my hypothesis. In other words, this is not your average Gigi. It looks great: the grain is as fiery as the name promises, with a mixture of straight grain and flame grain rising up its bowl and exploding in the form of a ring of bird’s-eye at the rim; and the same is very different, with a pear-like, faceted bowl joined to a circular shank and half-saddle stem.

This Gigi is also completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating to help break it in. It is chambered for 9mm filters as standard, but looks like it would accommodate an adapter if its owner prefers to smoke without one.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.5″ / 38.10mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 42g