Mastro de Paja 2C 1 Sun Large Billiard 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.

Mastro de Paja’s designs in the early decades, when this one was made, tended to be less focused on accents and ornamentation and more on handmade interpretations of classic shapes, and on getting the best grain possible when doing so. We might consider this one, for example, to be a hand-turned rendition of the large billiard shape from the 20th century, with its proportions close to Dunhill’s LB or the French Maigret. The “2” bracket in Mastro de Paja’s grading, when this one was made, was for partially sandblasted pieces, with “C” denoting particularly excellent grain. The straight grain on this one’s bowl is certainly befitting of that.

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

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.52″ / 38.60mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g