Ardor Urano Rusticated Canadian Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

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.

Like most of the great Italian workshops, Ardor has their own rustication style under the name, ‘Urano,’ which is the Italian form of the English, ‘Uranus.’ Most of Ardor’s lines are named after celestial bodies, in fact, such as the Venere (Venus), Giove (Juputer), and Meteora (meteor). The Urano could be considered Ardor’s answer to Castello’s Sea Rock, though I find the former to be more rugged and rustic than the latter. This Urano is a large Canadian shape, cutting an imposing figure with its size and stony appearance. Its thick walls should be able to handle just about any blend you throw at it, and its flattened base will allow for it to be set down from time to time during longer smokes.

The condition is excellent. I don’t see any significant issues that would need highlighting.

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.88 / 22.35mm

Bowl Depth: 2.0″ / 50.80mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g