Ser Jacopo (c.1980s-1994) L2 Smooth Long Shank Dublin (Estate)

Ser Jacopo is one of the most famous contemporary examples of high-grade, workshop-made Italian pipes. It also belongs to a very special tradition in Italian pipe making, having been established by Giancarlo Guidi and Bruno Sordini after the two had left another great Italian workshop, Mastro de Paja. Together, Guidi and Sordini created a brand of pipes that reflected their Renaissance sensibilities – even the figurehead of Ser Jacopo happens to be taken from a painting of a nobleman from centuries past—one that would soon become esteemed for creating unique and beautiful tobacco pipes that smoked just as perfectly as they looked.

While Ser Jacopo pipes often lean toward the ornate—and sometimes, toward the downright extravagant—the workshop’s roots will likely always be in the “Pesaro school” and its classical leanings. Thus, throughout its history (and its pre-history in Mastro de Paja), Ser Jacopo has maintained a place in its portfolio for renditions of more traditional shapes. The difference, of course, is that Ser Jacopo’s “traditional” pipes express levels of precision, attention to detail, and beauty that are seldom possible outside of the artisan’s craft.

Blending elements of the Liverpool, the Dublin, and even a slight touch of the cutty, this particular Ser Jacopo is a good encapsulation of Ser Jacopo’s Pesaro school origins. It’s a relatively early work, too, as it still features the coral dot stem inlay that the Ser Jacopo workshop used prior to the introduction of the modern silver “J”. During its first decades, Ser Jacopo went through a number of different stem logos, with sea coral serving this purpose for the longest time, until environmental protections on the coral itself forced the workshop to explore other avenues.

The condition is very good. Some rim darkening, minor inner rim charring, and slight handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.85″ / 46.99mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g