Mastro de Paja 0B Rusticated Lovat Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Like Castello, Mastro de Paja holds a special place in the world of Italian high-grade pipe workshops. Founded in 1972 by Giancarlo Guidi, the MdP team was soon joined by Giannino Spadoni and Bruto Sordini with the Guidi and Spadoni at the helm of the company until 1981. Guidi then left with Sordini to found Ser Jacopo, and Sordini would later leave Ser Jacopo to found Don Carlos. Spadoni, on the other hand, stayed at MdP until he also left, after which he founded Fiamma di Re. Today, Mastro de Paja is guided by Alberto Montini, with the workshop being known for both the manufacture of some of Italy’s most admired pipes, and for having launched the careers of some of its most respected artisans.

This particular Mastro de Paja is a relatively classical—albeit slightly more plump—Lovat shape. The Italians were, after all, heavily influenced by the Anglo-French style, but chose to reinterpret its shapes in their own, hand-crafted fashion. The pipe is also dressed in the Mastro de Paja workshop’s rendition of a very Italian, pebble-dash rustication. Judging by the stamping, this should be a pre-1995 piece.

The condition is good. Some darkening and finish fading on the rim.

 

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.6″ / 40.64mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g