Savinelli New Art 603 Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked, 6mm

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.

According to Savinelli’s website, the New Art debuted in the 2000s. And, also according to Savinelli’s website, the New Art is discontinued. Such is the case for so many lines of pipes—not just Savinelli’s—and indeed so many brands of pipes—though, thankfully, Savinelli is still very much going strong. What’s particularly sad about the demise of the New Art is that it featured something not present on just about any other Savinelli pipe made by the esteemed Milanese company: a “split stem.” The mouthpiece, as can be seen here, had a briar inlay at its base, into which the stem proper was molded, as opposed to a simple, parallel glued banding. It’s a technique far more common in artisan pipes than factory briars (Jody Davis, for example, is one contemporary master of the split stem), as it requires a significant amount of skill and precision to pull off. This one goes a little further, being an example of the highest “grade” of sorts within the New Art line, the Naturale,, or “Natural.” As the name implies, the pipe wears a light brown, quite natural, finish, which is used to display exemplary graining. I’ve seen many a Punto Oro, and a fair few Giubileo D’Oro, Savinelli that didn’t come close to this.

This pipe is completely unsmoked. It is chambered to allow for the use of 6mm filters, such as Savinelli’s own balsa filters, if desired, though it will perform perfectly well without one, too.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.52″ / 38.60mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g