Ardor: Urano Author with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Though the Ardor pipes 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 at here that Angelo began to carve pipes alongside his father and uncles, starting at the age of 13 in 1958, Ardor's debut into the pipe world marked by a high-standard of craftsmanship that's remained consistent for nearly five decades. Though Angelo passed away in 1999, Ardor is now run by Dorelio, alongside both Damiano and Dimitri, the next generation of Roveras. Ardor's pipes are often typified by their strikingly neoclassical proportions, with each piece offering greatly enhanced substance about the bowl and a reassuring presence in hand. A shape with some pleasantly plump, comfort-pipe proportions, the Author is here given some Italian neoclassical style in this rendition from the Roveras. With thick chamber walls and stout proportions throughout, it's a well-rounded form that ensures the bowl remains the focal point. The ruggedness of Ardor's Urano rustication enhances this piece's presence in hand, and a warm, auburn-tinged stain is lent some handsome contrast via an elegant dome of silver at the shank end. It's a lovely composition for pipe smokers who appreciate bold classics and textured finishes.