Year: 2018

  • ROSSI Argent 134

    Italy, 1970-80s In 1886 Ferdinando Rossi founded a pipe factory in Barasso, Lombardy. Over the time production came to leading positions: between two world wars Rossi’s factory was recognized as the largest in the world, 860 people worked there (95% of them – women), 50 000 pipes a day (it’s not a typo! yes, 50…

  • DANMORE 3031

    Denmark, 1970s The pipe can be dated quite precisely. Hans Sørensen founded the Danmore company in the early 1970s and it was quite a lucky start up, Danmore pipes were popular and sold in the Pipe Dan catalogue as well. But due to raising labour costs and falling demand the pipes production was closed in…

  • VIPRATI La Pipa

    Italy, 1980-90s A creature of the one of the most respected and collected modern Italian high grade pipe makers. Luigi Viprati (1953) started to carve pipes during his military service (simlarly to Karl Erik) and since 1982 he’s a full time pipe maker. Viprati uses clover signs for the grading: 1, 2, 4 and 5…

  • CIVIC 1923

    England, 1923 In fact it’s a “pre Cadogan Cadogan pipe”. The brand Civic was invented by Imperial Tobacco in 1921 as an outsource producer and trader of briar pipes and fancy goods. In 1928 Civic merged with other companies, what formed Cadogan Investments – a well known and very powerful player on the modern smoking…

  • Bruyere Garantie bulldog

    1920-30s? In the pre WWII period the nomenclature “Bruyere Garantie” (Real Briar, Echt Bruyere) was much more than just a stamping for identification of pipes made of briar (not of any other, cheaper wood). At the same time this nomenclature didn’t become a brand status because many manufacturers used it without any concerns regarding patents,…

  • SASIENI Mayfair 51

    England, 1950-70s A nice example of the pipe making art from Sasieni – one of the most aggressive and active competitors of Dunhill for many years. The family business successfully worked till 1979 – until the recession of demand in pipes forced to sell the business to new investors, and interest in Sasieni among collectors…

  • LORENZO Lloyds 8475 SP

    Italy, 1970-80s Generally speaking, Italian pipes were always beautiful, expressive and tasteful designed. But shortly before 1950 Lorenzo Tagliabue, new top manager of the Manufattura di Pipe Tagliabue (former Fratelli Lana), realized that skillful design is a much more important success factor than large production volumes and began to design new models of his own…

  • JEAN LACROIX Brittany

    France, unsmoked An export brand made by Jean Lacroix (†2007). The Lacroix family is one of the oldest French dynasties in the pipe making. The founder, Eugine Lacroix began with the Delacour factory back in the 19 century, his son and grandsons launched own workshop (1921) and registered own brand (later in 1962). The most…