Ser Jacopo Delecta S1 Sandblasted Cherrywood Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Ser Jacopo is likely the most famous contemporary example of high-grade, workshop-made Italian pipes. It also belongs to a very special tradition in Italian pipe-making, having been established by Giancarlo Guidi and Bruno Sordini after the two had left another great Italian workshop, Mastro de Paja. Together, Guidi and Sordini created a brand of pipes that reflected their Renaissance sensibilities – even the figurehead of Ser Jacopo happens to be taken from a painting of a nobleman from centuries past – one that would soon become esteemed for creating unique and beautiful tobacco pipes that smoked just as well as they looked.

As I’ve explained in previous listings, understanding Ser Jacopo’s Renaissance influences can help explain the differences between Ser Jacopo pipes and the naming practices across its various series. Take this highly ornate take on the cherrywood shape – what is a “Delecta”? For one thing, it’s not an Italian word, but a Latin one, which was the lingua franca of Renaissance Europe. It belongs to the same Latin root of English words such as “delightful” and “delectable,” and it is the name given to Ser Jacopos with a certain type of mount. This one, for example has a faux-spigot mount, with one half being sterling silver, and the other being – I think – an exotic wood, such as Amboyna burl. In addition to these fittingly delightful adornments, the pipe is beautifully sandblasted, with crisp ring grain well-suited to the pipe’s distinct interpretation of the traditional cherrywood shape.

The condition is excellent. The pipe came to us via our trade-in program from an Italian high-grades collector, and all of the pipes I’ve received from him were clearly well looked after. This one has been lovingly preserved with its original box and sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.55″ / 39.37mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g