Ardor (2004) Giove Old Briar Smooth Bulldog (Estate)

Like many Italian workshop brands, Ardor pipes are a family affair. The name itself is an acronym of Angelo Rovera and Dorelio Rovera, father and son pipe-makers who created the brand in 1972. The Rovera family’s history with pipes goes back much further, however, as Angelo’s own father, Francesco, had previously established the Sociedade Rovera pipe company with his brothers in 1911. All Ardor pipes are completely hand-made from briar that has been seasoned for at least 4-5 years, and the brand is noteworthy for its playful and innovative approaches to design. As a result, Ardor pipes are both quintessentially Italian, while also being somewhat different, having a style that is wholly their own.

All Ardor pipes are made from briar that has been seasoned for at least 10 years and, as such, all Ardors are made from a stock of carefully curated “old briar.” In the past, however, the Roveras made a small number of pipes from choice blocks of briar that had been seasoned for even longer than would normally be the case for an Ardor. This was the “Old Briar” series, and though I’m not sure precisely how old the blocks in question were, I do know that the pipes that belonged to that series were considered quite special. In an article about Ardor from the late 2000s, for example, Damiano Rovera claimed that Ardor’s oldest blocks were reserved for the workshop’s “special shapes,” and that, while these blocks came at a significant cost, they allowed for pipes that were “a little nicer” for Ardor’s customers. I think this pipe, from 2004, is the first Ardor Old Briar we’ve had come through our estates program. Even by Ardor’s standards, it is indeed a very nice pipe, with fantastic flame grain covering its large, squat bowl. It seems Damiano wasn’t kidding.

The condition is very good. Slight finish fading and a couple of very small scratches on the bowl. This pipe comes with its original box and sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.11mm

Bowl Depth: 1.48″ / 37.59mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 55g