Savinelli Autograph 6 N Natural Sandblasted Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

It is probably fair to say that Savinelli is Italy’s most famous pipe brand. Founded in Milan in 1876 by Achille Savinelli, the brand has continuously offered high quality pipes for nearly 150 years. Though various Savinelli lines have come and gone over the years, the brand has always been notable for putting out classically styled pipes with a distinctly Italian twist.

There are two Savinelli lines from decades past that have become particularly sought after today, despite being rather short-lived at the time. There was the Estella, a rather rugged line of freehand pipes with colorful Lucite mouthpieces; and there was the Nonpareil, comprised of large, non-standard shapes, with horn ferrules and flared, Danish-style mouthpieces. There were reissues, which were similarly short-lived, and there was even a crossover line: the Estella Non Pareil, which featured bowls and Lucite mouthpieces resembling those of the Estella, but which were also mounted with that same Lucite, and had mouthpieces cut in the same, Danish style as the Nonpareil. The reason I mention this is because, when this pipe first landed on my desk, I thought it might be an Estella Non Pareil. But, no, it’s an Autograph, funnily enough, albeit one a little different to most from the latter series. The Autograph series itself comprises some of Savinelli’s most high-end pipes. Like the Charatan freehand workshop in mid-20th century England, or Tsuge’s Ikebana workshop in late 20th century and 21st century Japan, Savinelli has its own, special area of the company’s campus reserved for master artisans, where non-standard pipe shapes are carved using techniques that are closer to handicraft than mechanized, mass production. In the case of this one, the workshop’s carver appears to have had the same soft spot for the Estella, the Nonpareil, and the Estella Non Pareil that so many collectors do, with the result being something to surpass all three, arguably.

On a last note, this Autograph appears to be a little older than those made today, as today’s sandblasted Autographs are not typically graded, whereas this one attained a very commendable grade “6.” The “N” I’m not sure about, though based on others that have come through before I’m inclined to think it either refers to the finish (i.e., for “Natural” sandblast), or for the additional Lucite mount, similarly to the “O” designation on Radice pipes.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. Some slight finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.90 / 22.86mm

Bowl Depth: 1.73″ / 43.94mm

Weight: 2.0oz / 58g