Mastro de Paja 3B Smooth Pot Sitter Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Like Castello, Mastro de Paja holds a special place in the world of Italian high-grade pipe workshops. Founded in 1972 by Giancarlo Guidi, the MdP team was soon joined by Giannino Spadoni and Bruto Sordini with the Guidi and Spadoni at the helm of the company until 1981. Guidi then left with Sordini to found Ser Jacopo, and Sordini would later leave Ser Jacopo to found Don Carlos. Spadoni, on the other hand, stayed at MdP until he also left, after which he founded Fiamma di Re. Today, Mastro de Paja is guided by Alberto Montini, with the workshop being known for both the manufacture of some of Italy’s most admired pipes, and for having launched the careers of some of its most respected artisans.

From the looks of it, this particular Mastro de Paja belongs t to a kind of “transitional period” within the workshop’s history. It’ll either be from the later Spadoni years, or perhaps the early Montini years, as it retain’s the workshop’s historic commitments to simpler, handmade pipes and excellent grain, while having a slightly more ornate stem—while overall not being nearly as ornate as contemporary models. Being a 3B grade, it has excellent grain patterns, taking the form of a mix of straight grain and birds’-eye. I’m reminded a little of GBD and their Bronze Velvet line, though in this instance it would have to be a handmade, such as if Horry Jamieson was to make a Bronze Velvet Unique.

The condition is good. Chamber slightly over-reamed and some rim darkening, minor handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.90 / 22.86mm

Bowl Depth: 1.15″ / 29.21mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g