Luciano 2010 Squat Sandblasted Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Those who were around during the 2010s may remember Luciano pipes. They were the creation of Luca di Piazza, owner of the now seemingly defunct Italian retailer NeatPipes, and were very well received when they made their American debut. First produced in partnership with Radice, then by Italian artisan Davide Iafisco, and including some designs co-created with GL Pease, Luciano became a go-to for a high quality, reasonably priced, Italian pipe. By the end of the 2010s, however, Neat Pipes, and Luciano with it, had all but disappeared, with production presumed to have ceased.

As this is a 2010 make Luciano, I would presume it to have been one of the pipes made in partnership with Radice, especially as the sandblast finish is a little reminiscent of the Radice Silk Cut. In any case, it’s a very traditional design, evoking the squat bulldog, tomato, and Rhodesian shapes common to early French briars. Then again, they don’t call them classics without good reason.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.06″ / 26.92mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g