415 Fresh Pipes This Week
Valbruna pipes feature the artisanal work of Italian pipe maker, Simone Gaudenzi, crafted with coherence in mind and representing the most personal expression of his artistry.
Ever since Simone was young, he has felt a strong attraction to pipes — first as objects, even before the experience itself. At 20-years-old, he started smoking a pipe and recognized that he wanted to truly understand how a pipe is made, the process, and what lies behind an object rich in history and ritual.
Simone began his journey in 1998 when he met Giancarlo Guidi and joined Ser Jacopo, gaining key skills in the importance of line, balance, and functionality in pipe making. He also learned the classic Italian style inherited from the Pesaro school and developed his own vision in pipe making.
He chose to follow another great passion — the sea, working for about 10 years in a shipyard. In 2014, he returned to Ser Jacopo and worked alongside other artisans in Pesaro, continuing to refine his pipe making. As a craftsman, he stayed connected to the professional environment of Arcadia, where he shaped high-end pieces for Ser Jacopo, Anatra, and Kristiansen. His signature aesthetic features precise curves, fine sanding and shaping, and balanced proportions. He decided then to create his own brand, and Valbruna pipes was born.
The brand name Valbruna is inspired by his love of pipes and the sea. The name comes from the legend of Valbruna, the ancient lost city of the Adriatic, which in coastal legend is believed to have been submerged by the force of time and the sea. This theme offers a poetic tone, emphasizing something precious resurfacing from the depths. It lies beneath the waters off the coast of Simone’s hometown, Gabicce Mare, a small town on the Adriatic coast. Old sailors still tell this story and claim that on clear days at sea, some can glimpse shapes on the seabed — streets or the remains of buildings.
Within his portfolio, Simone utilizes rusticated, sandblasted, semi-sandblasted, and smooth finishes and grades his pipes with various designations: Jellyfish indicates the grade of briar defined by purity and orientation of grain; Calypso highlights special pipes, due to size, volume, or unique forms; and Atlantis showcases flame-grain pipes with visually distinctive grain patterns. Combining elegance and a fresh approach to Pesaro's unique style, Simone works with 5-6 year cured briar. Valbruna pipes are handcrafted and built for fine smoking experiences. Every pipe is created not just as a smoking tool, but an object that tells a story.
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