Clairmont (by Tom Spanu) Olea Exeloa Extra Large Smooth Olivewood Dublin (Estate)

After arriving in Varese, Italy, with the intention of becoming a pipe maker, Tommaso Spanu was taken under the wing of Alberto Paronelli, one of the first modern-Italian master carvers. From here, Tom Spanu was charged with creating the high-grade Clairmont make owned and distributed by Paronelli. He then went on to create pipes under his own name, becoming one of Italy’s most renowned and respected artisans. After crafting pipes for over 50 years, Tommaso Spanu passed away in 2015.

This particular pipe is one of the pieces made by Spanu for Paronelli’s Clairmont venture. It embodies a theme that would be constant throughout Spanu’s career: the use of materials other than briar in the construction of smoking instruments. In this instance, that material is olivewood, which has been used in Italian pipe making for over a century, especial among its artisans, in part because of its heat resistance and neutral flavor profile, and in part because of its distinctive appearance and graining. It takes the form of an especially large, stacked Dublin, with a brass accent and a shank extension also turned from olivewood.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening.

Details:

Length: 6.6″ / 167.6mm

Bowl Width: 0.93 / 23.62mm

Bowl Depth: 2.19″ / 55.62mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 74g