Mastro de Paja OB Rusticated Canadian 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 sturdy, slightly brandyish Canadian shape. As I’ve said before, the Italians were heavily influenced by the Anglo-French style, but chose to reinterpret its shapes in their own, hand-crafted fashion. They were not unlike the early Danish artisans in that regard. This Mastro de Paja 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 wear to the rim and minor finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g