Viprati Sandblasted Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Much like in Denmark or Japan, many of the great names in Italian artisan pipe-making got their start working for other greats in their famous workshops. This was the case for artisans such as Giancarlo Guidi, Luigi Radice, Sergio Ascorti, and Maurizio Tombari. Luigi Viprati, on the other hand, is one of the few self-taught Italian pipe-makers of the 20th century to have reached the same heights as such contemporaries. First picking up the craft in 1972, Viprati would ultimately become one of the defining names in Italian pipes, which he remains to this day.

This is the most English looking Italian pipe I’ve seen in a long while—and I mean that as a compliment. It’s a bent billiard with a very classic, early 20th century shaping, as well as a deep, ring grain sandblast. If I didn’t know better, I might think it was, for example, a shape 120 Dunhill Tanshell. On the other hand, the pipe looks great and is well made just on its own merits, and I’m especially fond of the extra-traditional, beveled rim.

The condition is good. There’s some rim darkening, and a spot of char at the very front of the rim, but it doesn’t detract from the pipe’s aesthetic all that much, and it certainly won’t affect its performance.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g