Ardor (2013) Urano Fantasy Partially Rusticated Sphinx with Silver and Lucite (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.

While many Italian artisans today profess a debt to the greats of Scandinavian pipe making, the Roveras’ Ardor make was a rather early example of a very Italian pipe outfit blending its own national style with the Danish ones—or, in this case, Swedish. This Mercurio (light smooth finish) Fantasy (accented, here with sterling silver), for instance, was made all the way back in 2008, which makes its shaping all the more unconventional. After all, the shape in question is one originally designed by none other than Bo Nordh, under the name of the “Sphinx.” I have heard it compared to another Bo Nordh shape, the “Elephant’s Foot,” before, though to my mind the Sphinx has always stood out as closer to certain cobra renditions, with the key difference being in the orientation of the bowl—the Sphinx being like a cobra rotated 180 degrees.

Where the Roveras differentiate their Sphinx renditions further is in the choice of ornamentation and, in many cases, the finishes used to complement its distinctive form. This particular example wears Ardor’s stony Urano finish, for example, which sets it apart from just about any other Sphinx rendition out there. As part of the Fantasy series, the pipe is further accented with a marbled, gemstone-like mouthpiece and a band of sterling silver.

The condition is great. Lightly smoked, and with care. This pipe comes with its original sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.80″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g