Mastro De Paja 3B One Sun Bent Dublin 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 strikes me as being an earlier example from the make (possibly 1980s), back when the focus was less on extravagant designs and decorative elements, and more on beautifully simple – and simply beautiful – handmade Italian briars. It is a Dublin with a steep, sweeping bend that almost approaches Oom Paul territory, with excellent flame grain patterns lapping around its bowl. The grade is a 3B, with a single sun, or “sole” on the stem’s underside, indicating particularly good grain (as is evident) and a light, natural finish.

The condition is great. There’s a very small amount of inner rim darkening, and one or two minor handling marks, but the pipe is nonetheless very well preserved.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.92 / 23.36mm

Bowl Depth: 1.53″ / 38.86mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g