Viprati Smooth Fantail Prince 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.

While many of his designs lean toward the extravagance and bombast of post-war Danish pipes, there is nonetheless also a definite English influence in Luigi Viprati’s work. In a recent listing, I noted Viprati’s homage to Charatan’s iconic “cup and saucer” shapes, but this one is much more classical. It is a very elegant Anglo-French prince, but its stem gestures toward one very specific, classic English make: Sasieni. While it was not the only company to experiment with novel stem styles, Sasieni does stick out as likely the most prominent example of pipes with fanning, fishtail stems—even having a sub-brand devoted solely to them. This Viprati prince would seem to me to be a clear-cut, and beautifully done, tribute.

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

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.16″ / 29.46mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g