"The Italian Pipe"
by G. L. Pease Most of us who have been devoted admirers of the pipe for any length of
time are familiar with at least some of the wealth of stories and
legends pertaining to the discovery of briar as a uniquely suited
material for pipe making, and of the many pipe makers who have used it
over the past century and a half to carve their place in history. We are
usually inclined, when discussing that history, to turn our attention
mainly to France, as the natural birthplace of the first briar, and to
England, for its long and well known tradition of pipe making. But, what
of Italy?
In 1886, Ferdinando Rossi returned from a trip to Saint-Claude, to his
home in Molino di Barasso, Varese, where he established the first
factory in Italy devoted to the manufacture of briar pipes. Prior to
that, as far back as the mid-19th century, Italy's pipe makers plied
their craft with pearwood, boxwood, applewood, and before that, the
local clays and, especially, Tuscany's terracotta. But it was Rossi's
introduction of the briar pipe that gave the Italian pipe industry the
vigor that has carried it through to the present time.
Ever since, Italy's contribution to the art and industry of the pipe has
been both significant and important, but possibly never more so than it
is today. In recent decades, briar grown in Italian soil, harvested from
the regions of Liguria, Tuscany and Calabria, and the islands of
Sardinia and Sicily, prized for its grain and smoking qualities, has
been used by many of the world's finest pipe makers to create their
excellent smoking masterpieces.
Too, Italy, especially in the regions of Marche and Lombardy, is a land
full of pipe makers, from Savinelli's considerable factory in Varese,
with a production of ca. 150,000 pipes per year, to small ateliers,
where individual artists produce 100-200 pieces in the same time. A
cursory survey of the pipe makers of Italy revealed 82 identifiable
brands, most of which began in the early through mid-20th century. I'm
sure if all the independent makers over the past 100 years had been
included in that list, this number could easily be doubled.
Yet, despite such a rich history and the possession of such profound
force upon the current pipe making world, the Italian pipe industry has
been all but overlooked in much of the literature. This apparent
oversight was, in part, the fundamental motivation behind the creation
of Italianpipemakers.com.
When Luca first told me of this ambitious project, I was instantly
excited about it; it's a great honor, today, to contribute this brief
introduction. I believe this site will quickly become an important
resource for all devotees of the Italian pipe. Within its pages will be
found a treasure box of information and stories, many of which will be
told by those most intimately familiar with the subject, and those with
the greatest passion for it - the makers themselves. Other articles will
be contributed by ardent fans of a brand, or dedicated students of the
history of one of the makers.
Welcome to ItalianPipeMakers.com. Open the box, and explore!
G. L. Pease
April, 2007
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"Italianpipemakers"
by Luca di Piazza
Italian Pipe Makers is a project with the ambition to create an informative community where you'll be able to find the largest numbers of notions as possible about artisans who, in the Italian panorama, realize smoking pipes.
It is a space which is developed around and by the artisan himself, who has the chance to add the most relevant information to promote his personal work. We will realize complete pages for those names who are not still existing.
Italian Pipe Makers is a 360° project: the goal is involving all the rings of the chain, from the very first step which is the work that the briar cutter maker makes with his precious action of collecting and cutting, up to the smoker who is the one who appreciate the finished object, passing through the artisan, obviously, and all of them who are involved in this loved world.
If you have ideas or suggests, or if you wrote an interview or article that could be inserted into our pages, please contact us.
A special space is reserved to authorized dealers.
Advertising on Italianpipemakers.com is absolutely important for the dealer who has the chance to promote his selection of fine pipes, for the visitor and to support the progect IPM.
Italian Pipe Makers is not a commercial website, we do not do a direct sale of pipes. Our work of promotion through events and shows is addressed to promote the busyness of those dealers who'll decide to support our project.
Italian Pipe Maker is a web site which is continuing developed and increased. Little by little it will be expanded, trying to offer the largest number of services and information as possible.
Please contact us to know how to be involved in the project.
Luca di Piazza
April, 2007
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