Mastro de Paja 1C 1 Sun Sandblasted Brandy 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.

As I’ve said before, the Italians—especially the Italian artisan workshops—are not typically known for their deep, craggy, sandblasted finishes, tending toward lighter, more reserved textures. But as we saw with another recent pipe, Mastro de Paja seems, at one point, to have gone against the grain (excuse the pun) in that regard. This stout brandy shape, made between 1980 and 1995 if memory serves, features a light brown blast finish that wouldn’t look out of place on a mid-century Charatan Relief or Dunhill Tanshell. Color me impressed.

The condition is good. Some darkening and wear to the rim, and a slightly over-reamed chamber.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.55″ / 39.37mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g