Calibano (Mastro de Paja) 102 C4 Sandblasted Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

I have seen many references to Calibano pipes as a Mastro de Paja “second,” and while they were made by Mastro de Paja, to call them “seconds” is not entirely accurate. Instead, Calibano was a Mastro de Paja sub brand, and specifically one through which Mastro de Paja offered something more akin to a factory pipe. In other words, while just about every Mastro de Paja pipe is handmade in the Italian workshop tradition, with the typical result being that each has been unique, Calibano pipes were made with the use of fraising machines and, as such, were offered in a roster of set shapes and finishes. It’s a little like Savinelli’s establishment of the Autograph workshop, but in reverse; instead of starting out a factory make and branching out into freehand pipes, Calibano was a case of a freehand pipe workshop branching out into factory briars.

Not unlike the classic Anglo-French factory pipes that Calibano sought to emulate, the latter’s approach to sandblasting, as far as I’ve seen thus far, has been decidedly craggy, often resulting in some magnificent, deep ring grain finishing. This one is certainly no exception, with its blasted hills and valleys so prominent one might mistake it for strawberry briar, or something of the sort.

This pipe is completely unsmoked.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.97 / 24.63mm

Bowl Depth: 1.83″ / 46.48mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g