Aldo Velani Grande 43 Rusticated Oom Paul Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Aldo Velani pipes are made by Cesare Barontini at the latter’s factory in Italy. Originally, Aldo Velani was conceived by Mastercraft to be a new Italian make for the American market, as all of Mastercraft’s other pipes at the time were of English or French origin. Mastercraft partnered with Barontini, and thus the Aldo Velani make was born. More recently, Aldo Velani was acquired by Mitchell Thomas, with production—still by Barontini—recommencing after 2008.

I would imagine that Barontini’s Aldo Velani make employs flexible drilling, much like Ser Jacopo or the late Luigi Viprati, for some of its pipes, allowing for designs such as this one. True to its name, this Grande is a large Oom Paul-egg hybrid, pairing the modern Italian institution of seemingly impossibly full bent shapes with the even more Italian institution of a pebble-dash rusticated finish.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening and handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g