Ser Jacopo Pre-1994 Maxima L2 Smooth Calabash 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.

Originally, the Ser Jacopo workshop used the Latin designation “Maxima” for their over-sized pipes. I’m not entirely sure when, but as Ser Jacopo’s over-sized pipes became even larger, it became standard practice to increase the number of “Maxima” stamps on a pipe, up to a possible eight “Maxima”s for the very largest. This Ser Jacopo is a relatively early pipe from the workshop, so it is possible that, today, it might receive more than just the one Maxima designation.

I say “early” as this particular Ser Jacopo comes from before 1994, during the first 10 or so years that the workshop was in operation, and during which time Giancarlo Guidi was firmly at the helm. As I’ve mentioned in previous listings, Ser Jacopo pipes went through a number of different stem logos over the decades, beginning as a silver-mounted gemstone, then a silver-mounted red sea coral dot, then a red plexiglass dot (now used solely for more affordable sub-brands like La Fuma and Modica), and finally the silver “J” on Ser Jacopo pipes today. This one features a coral dot which, as also previously estimated, was discontinued and swapped for the silver “J” around 1994, as EU conservation legislation was introduced around that time to protect endangered coral species (or, possibly, as early as 1989, when similar legislation was introduced in Sardinia, where red sea coral was predominantly harvested).

As for the design, it is a very classic Ser Jacopo pipe, taking the form of a large, straight grain calabash with a sterling silver collar. While in more recent decades the workshop has leaned further into their Renaissance inspirations, putting out ever more grandiose designs, the calabash has remained within their portfolio since the early years, and was indeed the shape chosen to represent the make for its limited edition Millennium Pipe.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. A few very slight scratches on the bowl, though nothing major at all. This pipe comes with its original sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.0″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.9″ / 48.26mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g