Posella SR3 VIP Partially Rusticated Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Vitaliano Posella has a wealth of experience with briar, not only because he’s been making pipes for several decades now, but because he also comes from a family of briar cutters in Calabria, who supply high-grade blocks of our favorite root to pipe makers around the world. Because of this, his pipes are meticulously crafted and precisely graded, with each stamp giving an indication of the shape, finish, and the quality of the grain. In fact, while some pipe makers might have three to five different possible grades for their pipes, Posella has eighteen.

This broad, pot-Dublin hybrid, for example, is an SR3 VIP grade. “SR” indicates that it is a smooth pipe in a natural finish, with a very small amount of rustication, which can be seen in the pipe’s faux-plateaux rim. It is an “SR3” because natural finish, partially rusticated pipes are additionally graded from 1 (the lowest in the bracket) to 3 (the highest). It is an “SR3 VIP” because some pipes within the natural finish, partially rusticated “SR” bracket exceed even the standards of a grade 3, thus qualifying them for “VIP” status (“VIP” stands for “VItaliano Posella in this context). Posella himself seems to have thought quite highly of this pipe. Looking at it, I can see why.

The condition is great. Minor inner rim darkening.

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.23″ / 31.24mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g