Italian Estates: Ardor Urano Christmas 2000 Bent Billiard (DR) (18) Tobacco Pipe

Though the Ardor pipe workshop was founded in 1974 by father-son team Angelo and Dorelio Rovera, the pipe-making history of the family stretches back to 1911, with the founding of Sociedade Rovera in Varese, Italy. It was here that Angelo began to carve pipes alongside his father and uncles, starting at the age of 13 in 1958. Ardor's debut in the pipe world was marked by a high standard of craftsmanship that's remained consistent for decades. Though Angelo passed away in 1999, Ardor continued through Dorelio and his son, Damiano and Dimitri — the next generation of Roveras. Each of their pipes are made by hand, using high-quality Italian briar that’s been aged for at least ten years and fitted with stems turned from rod-stock acrylic. Ardor's pipes are often typified by their strikingly neoclassical proportions, with many pieces offering greatly enhanced substance about the bowl and a reassuring presence in hand. This approach to design is showcased across a range of shapes, from stylized takes on timeless Anglo-French profiles to complex, organic, Freehand pieces, with their largest pipes denoted by the Giant designation and their most playful pieces belonging to the Fantasy line. Ardor’s portfolio is also marked by its array of expressive finishes, some of which take inspiration from architecture and the natural world, such as the Alveare, Meteora, and Vulcani, with many of their pipes highlighted by vibrant stems, silver accents, and colorful stains.