Ser Jacopo Pre-1994 L1 Smooth Calabash Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

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 Ser Jacopo pipes are all made by hand and, thus, mostly unique creations, the calabash is, nonetheless something of a staple in the workshop’s portfolio. Indeed, the shape appears to have been a favorite of Giancarlo Guidi, as it was under his tenure that Ser Jacopo’s special, limited edition “Millennium” pipe—made to commemorate the dawning of the new century—took the form of a large calabash in various finishes. This one is a more “typical” rendition, though, being a Ser Jacopo, it is no less of a high-end pipe. A single-piece design (i.e., no removeable cap), it is still quite faithful to the traditional variety that preceded briars altogether, while also being surprisingly lightweight despite its tall, trumpeting figure. On another interesting note, this one features a coral dot stem inlay, which should place it some time before 1994, during a time when Giancarlo Guidi was still head of the workshop. As I’ve mentioned before, Ser Jacopo pipes have gone through numerous different stem logos over the years, and an inlay of sea coral was used for much of the workshop’s early years. EU legislation protecting such corals came into effect in 1994, however, which put an end to that practice (being part of the reason the Ser Jacopo logo today is a silver “J” instead).

The condition is good. Some rim charring, mostly on the inner rim, and minor handling marks.

Details:

Length: 5.9″ / 149.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.34mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g