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Pipe making has become a universal art. From Greece to Brazil, from California to Japan, makers and artisans dedicated to this most unique of crafts are scattered across the globe. Sure, many of these share similar styles and influences, but geographically, they're very much spread out — save but a handful.
In northern Italy, however, on the outskirts of Milan, you can find a rather interesting phenomenon — a cluster of some of the most respected and prominent pipe makers and workshops in the world, all packed together in one geographical location. More than that, they are the result of a unique pipe-making movement, each brand with its own relationship and tie to its surrounding competitors.
It was here, in fact, in the shadow of the snow-capped Alps, where we saw some of the first true, unmistakably Italian pipes. It was here where Castello was born, where Caminetto, Ascorti, and Radice all formed. It was here where the Roveras first dreamed up their larger-than-life briars. It was here that Savinelli put Italy on the map as a true force in the serially produced pipe-world. This little cluster, this microcosm if you will, is a pipe-making Eden, an oasis where competition drives creativity, and where creativity yields the most unique of products.
Savinelli
Though largely English inspired, Savinelli has made these classic shapes all their own with beautiful Italian variants, ranging from standard sized briars to extra large "EX" sized pieces, for over 140 years. They were crucial in shifting the spotlight away from England for factory produced pipes and artisan-grade pieces alike, bringing greater attention to the wider world of pipe making. Every step of Savinelli's production is conducted in house. It's truly more of a workshop than a factory, with a range of artisans specialized in one very specific step of the process. Their sheer variety of offerings, shapes, and finishes, as well as their strict adherence to quality control, has kept customers coming back for generations.
Castello
For decades, if a pipe smoker wanted a pipe that conveyed a sense of status, a brand with undeniable cachet, he had to go to a pedigreed English pipe, such as Dunhill and Sasieni; a pipe from Italy simply wouldn't have come to mind. Then, in 1947, a man from Cantu, Italy began carving pipes that would change all of that. That man's name was Carlo Scotti, and his pipe brand is called "Castello." Ever since, Castello has been providing collectors and enthusiasts around the world with top-quality designs, in both their expert engineering and the innovative forms. From iconic shapes like the "55" bent Pot and the "10" Brucianaso, they've inspired entire collections — not to mention influenced a whole lot of pipe makers and marques along the way (both in Italy and elsewhere). The early American artisans, for example, placed quite a lot of stock in Castello designs, taking those bold, neo-classical proportions and letting them run wild.
Caminetto/Ascorti
After working for Castello for nearly ten years, Guiseppe Ascorti, or "Peppino" to his friends, branched out and created his own independent workshop. Together with Luigi Radice, who also worked for Castello, and Gianni Davoli, Ascorti founded the Caminetto brand. "I tre Camini," as the trio were later known, soon made their mark on the world of pipes and pipe tobacco, particularly in the United States where Castello pipes were in large demand but extremely scarce — playing heavily on that precedented Italian tradition while adapting and evolving it to something very much their own. Ascorti later left Caminetto to continue his craft, and together with his son Roberto, the Ascorti brand was born. Peppino's early death saw the reigns passed to Roberto, who continued to make Ascorti pipes for years until the family revived the old Caminetto brand we know and love today.
Radice
Radice's history shares much in common with that of the Caminetto/Ascorti brand, Luigi having worked at both Castello and the Caminetto workshop alike. But like Ascorti, Luigi sought to make pipes his own way, so in 1980 he founded Radice pipes. Having begun the craft in 1960, Luigi is counted among the world's most experienced and timeless figures in pipe making. He continues on today, though his sons Gianluca and Marzio are now taking the reigns more and more. Stylistically, Radice owes much to its Castello roots, and the evolution of that style that Radice and Ascorti developed for Caminetto, but the soul of the brand is Gigi's. His playfulness, almost childlike delight in tinkering with pipes, his creativity and his relentless dedication to quality established the brand some thirty years ago, and kept it focused, consistent, and innovative ever since.
Ardor
The Roveras have been making pipes for four generations now, though not all under the Ardor marque. It was Dorelio Rovera, along with his father Angelo, who first established the Ardor workshop and brought the name to wide recognition (particularly in the U.S.). How did it happen? Well, picture for a moment an Italian pipe. More than likely, it's a larger design. But even the largest offerings from other makers didn't quite fill the demand for some collectors. They wanted massive, statement-making pipes that could hold hours worth of their favorite blends. The Roveras filled the gap in the market with their Giant and Super Giant designations — not only offering huge, Italian pipes, but creative, ambitious designs unlike anything else on the market.
In honor of this phenomenon, we recently showcased a special update of 60 estate pipes, all from this very specific area of Italy. From old-school Caminettos, to extra large Ardors, to iconic Castellos, to beautiful Autographs from Savinelli... these pieces are part of an exposition, a collection of Italian pipe-making, and a beautiful array of pipes you simply won't want to miss.
Tagged in: Ardor Caminetto Castello Pipe Makers Pipe Making Radice Savinelli
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Comments
Perhaps Posella is not as famous as the other marques, but it is the best pipe I have ever owned in my 50 plus years of pipe smoking. And that includes two Charatans.