Since 1876, Savinelli has been making impressive Italian pipes. From curing briar, to shaping, to mixing their all-natural stains, Savinelli conducts every step of production in house. Standard shapes are fraised on a machine—a technique shared by most other serially produced pipe manufacturers. What separates Savinelli from other companies is that the entire process, from sorting to staining, is conducted by artisans specialized in one very specific step of the pipemaking process, thereby making them supremely skilled. One craftsman, for example, executes Savinelli's various rustications; another sits in front of a huge pile of briar blocks, sorting them based on which individual shapes and series they're best suited for. Another fits stems to stummels. This isn't a large team either, and numbers just thirty people. Savinelli could readily be considered more of a workshop than an actual factory. Luca Fontana, Savinelli's export manager, says that each member of the team is a craftsman with a natural affinity for the work who knows the materials intimately.

Savinelli Autographs, however, are different. Autographs hold a special position at the workshop, as well as in the minds of collectors and enthusiasts, and for many pipesmokers, Autographs represent the epitome of Italian pipemaking. These pipes are made start-to-finish by individual artisans, rather than changing hands for each stage of manufacture. Autographs are imbued with individualistic creativity and are made from only the finest, aged, Extra-Extra-grade plateau briar.

The first Autographs were made in the early 1970s, and only six artisans have ever crafted Autograph pipes: Sandro, Egnacio, Franco, then Massimo and Domenico and Emiliano.

"It began with Sandro," says factory director Luisa Bozzetti. "Sandro was remarkably talented, and Achille [Achille Savinelli, Jr, son of the founder] had the idea of him carving more artistic/artisanal pipes. Together Achille and Sandro developed the line, a series of larger, unique designs, meticulously carved. Sandro had made Freehand shapes based on designs by Achille, and with the Autograph line, they would extend and explore Savinelli offerings in that direction."

Sandro is the artist who carved the famous "miniature" set of working Savinelli pipes that many have seen in images. Now, however, he was working on much larger pipes, with Autographs tending to be large Freehands.

Currently, Massimo and Domenico make Autographs. "But," says Luisa, "there is a younger apprentice, Emiliano Deda, who has been with Savinelli around 8 years and has apprenticed with the two more experienced carvers. First he did some final polishing, then stem work, then finishing and now he's starting to make some pipes on his own."

Autographs are totally freehand and made by hand even if the form is more 'classic.' They are works of art and each is conspicuously distinct.

These carvers do not make Autographs exclusively, however, so it's difficult to say how much time each Autograph takes. "The artisans who make Autographs," says Luisa, "also contribute to other areas of production, because of their experience and skill. Also, the design and finish can vary greatly in the time it takes to complete. There are less than 500 pieces a year produced for the different Autograph lines."

There are seven different lines within the Autograph series, including:

• Autographs: Savinelli's flagship line, Autographs are crafted from extra-extra grade plateau and aged specifically for the series, then carved from start to finish by a single artisan. Comprised in particular of large Freehands, no two Autographs are alike.
• Mignons: Smaller Autographs, maintaining all the attributes of larger Autographs but in more average sizes.
• Freestyles: Made with more modern designs and particular shape types, though each pipe is individually crafted and no two are exactly alike.
• Creativity: Personally designed by Giancarlo Savinelli, this series extends beyond the norm in terms of creativity and particularly original shapes.
• Artisan: Freehand interpretations of classic shapes in flawless briar.
• Mister A: Developed by Achille Savinelli, Jr., Mister A pipes reflect more modern shaping cues in more average sizes and hewing closer to, but dramatically different from, Savinelli standard shapes.
• Prime: Whimsically creative, the Prime series presents pipes generally shaped like sea creatures such as Seahorses, starfish, whales, sharks and dolphins.

"We buy plateau briar specifically for the Freehand series, but we also use plateau for some other special series such as the Collection," says Luisa. "We buy a batch of plateau and Dominico I sort out the best pieces to store in the Autograph Room. Also, our suppliers bring a selection of plateau to the factory for us to hand select. That makes Autograph briar selection a three-step process. First from the suppliers' top tier, then recategorizing it ourselves. Then the final grading is once the pipes are shaped and finished."

The Autograph Room is a special chamber in the Savinelli factory where the most special quality briar is kept on display. "It's mostly so that the artisans don't have to dig through a bag or box of wood," says Luisa. "They can easily see the blocks whether they're looking for inspiration from the wood itself, or if they're looking for a block to meet a certain shape or size requirement." The Autograph Room also provides additional curing. "We also cure our plateau blocks more slowly than the rest of the briar," says Luisa. "This is to ensure that these blocks, which are mostly straight grain, cure slowly and are free of expansion cracking." This setup permits the artisans easy access when they're thinking about a shape, saving time. Occasionally, Savinelli will ask their Autograph carvers to pursue particular shape types that are in demand. "Aside from that," says Luisa, "they are completely free to create. Custom requests are accommodated but the carvers are still free to be creative."

Autographs have a world-wide following, though they are most popular in the U.S., China and the U.K. These pipes embody a gravitas that is recognizable; their quality evident even to non-pipe people. When they're in venues such as antique shops, where all the pipes are thrown into a bucket, Autographs seem always displayed separately because they are so obviously exceptional, even to those unfamiliar with the basic principles of pipes.

That's because of this line's unique shaping and briar quality. For autographs, Savinelli utilizes the "shape first, drill after" method, permitting the briar grain to contribute to the shape and presentation. "Autographs are totally freehand and made by hand," says Luisa, "even if the form is more 'classic.' They are works of art and each is conspicuously distinct."

Of particular interest is the upcoming 150th anniversary of Savinelli, in 2026, for which the company is planning a special, 50th-Anniversary line of Autographs. It's impressive that they are already working on that project, but not particularly surprising, given the quality and care, meticulous design and execution, of one of the most prized lines of pipes ever available to the smoking public.