Ser Jacopo La Pipaccia 12 Spongia S3 C Sandblasted Rhodesian w/ Silver Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

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 the majority of the Ser Jacopo workshop’s pipes are unique, with a few overlapping motifs, there are, nonetheless, some that are of a set design—albeit produced in limited numbers. Some of the latter, for example, belong to the Picta series, which take on designs inspired by depictions of pipes by famous artists (such as Van Gogh or Joan Miro); others belong to annual collections, such as the Domina, which serves as the Ser Jacopo “Pipe of the Year.” “La Pipaccia” is another such series, comprised of 16 basic shapes, with a variety of possible finishes and accoutrements. Roughly translating to “The Old Pipe,” La Pipaccia has a single—though very creative—guiding theme, as each shape is loosely based on the kinds of old-fashioned pipes the late Giancarlo Guidi would see local fishermen smoking back in the day.

La Pipaccia shape 12, seen here, is a large, swooping, long hanging, and all around highly distinctive Rhodesian rendition. In addition to its sterling silver faux-spigot mount, this one is a little bit special, as it’s also an instance of Ser Jacopo’s rather uncommon “Spongia” finish. Comparable to the Dunhill Tanshell (in its sandblasted variant) or the Savinelli Punto Oro Corallo (in its rusticated variant), the Spongia is a near-naked finish applied to Ser Jacopo pipes made from especially good briar, which, like the aforementioned lines from Dunhill and Savinelli, absorbs residue from smoke over time and takes on a warm patina—hence the “Spongia” name. This one is the sandblasted variant, expressed as a deep, gnarly relief that pairs perfectly with the overarching theme of Guidi’s series, and in more ways than one, come to think of it.

This pipe is completely unsmoked and comes with its original box.

Details:

Length: 6.3″ / 160.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.84″ / 46.73mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g