Gigi Elegance Chubby Straight Billiard Estate Briar Pipe Unsmoked 9mm, Horn Stem

Description

Gigi pipes occupy an interesting position in the history of Italian pipe-making. The story begins with the founding of Sociedade Rovera, a pipe-making company in Varese, Italy, by the Rovera family. As members of the Rovera family left to start their own ventures, the dynasty associated with the name would be split into several companies; Angelo Rovera created Ardor with his son Dorelio; Federico created Fe.Ro; Massimilliano created Mario Rovera; Fiorenzo created Gardenesa; and Giorgio created Giorgio Rovera, along with partners Angelo and Adele Bianchi. In 1964, Luigi Crugnola, nephew of the Bianchis, took over the Giorgio Rovera make and changed its name to his own – Gigi.

This is the first Elegance I’ve seen from Italian make Gigi, and I have to say I’m quite impressed. This one is a distinctly stout, chubby billiard, a shape that is sometimes referred to as a ‘Maigret.’ Unlike most Maigrets that I’ve encountered, this one appears to have a stem made from genuine horn – either that, or a remarkably good imitation. Given the pipe’s distinctly thick walls, it should be able to handle just about any blend thrown at it, too.

The pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl-coating to help ease in its first smokes. The pipe is chambered for 9mm filters, though it should accommodate some variety of adapter if non-filtered use is preferred.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 2.4oz / 70g