Viprati 1 Clover Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Much like in Denmark or Japan, many of the great names in Italian artisan pipe making got their start working for other greats in their famous workshops. This was the case for artisans such as Giancarlo Guidi, Luigi Radice, Sergio Ascorti, and Maurizio Tombari. Luigi Viprati, on the other hand, was one of the few entirely self-taught Italian pipe makers of the 20th century to have reached the same heights as such contemporaries. First picking up the craft in 1972, Viprati would ultimately become one of the defining names in Italian pipes, which he remained until his passing in 2025.

While Luigi Viprati’s aesthetics typically leaned towards modern designs in the vein of the Italian workshop scene, he would still, from time to time, opt for a more classical approach. This extended both to the basic forms he employed and to the materials he used in their construction. From what I’ve seen, he was especially good at carving bent billiards in the traditional, Anglo-French style. This, for instance one is a beautifully grained full bent rendition, with a deep, golden contrast finish highlighting a vortex of flame grain around the bowl. And, to hammer home that traditional look, the pipe also features a mouthpiece cut from imitation horn, evoking the early briars of the 19th century.

This pipe is completely unsmoked. Some slight handling marks, though nothing major.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.67″ / 42.41mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g