Italians Make great Pipes, But Do They Smoke Them?

[smoker13]

I just read an article about Italy being the second healthiest country in the world. The main reason cited was the Mediterranean diet (fresh fish, fresh vegetables, fruit, etc) lean meat in small portions, olive oil instead of butter, a lot of walking and family centered activity, including meals (reduced stress) and other reasons. I was waiting for pipe smoking to be mentioned, either positively or negatively, but of course in today's climate, especially in such an article, there was NO reference to stress reduction via puffing on the pipe.

What's the word on the Italians and the pipe? Is pipe smoking popular in Italy? Let's hear from all the brothers who have visited Italy in the past few years. Juan, you honeymooned there and regaled us with those lovely pictures of all those pipe shops, what's the word? Did you notice other men smoking pipes beside you? Was it really a case of "When in Rome......"?

 

[Stick]

I've been to Italy a few times (admittedly not in the past 5 years), and in my experience, like in the rest of Europe, you do see them but it's a rare sighting. I think it's a generational thing; if we went back 50 years they'd be far more popular.

 

[Gus Martinez]

60% of my 200 over pipes are Italian

Luigi Viprati
Ser Jacopo
Caminetto
Lanatra
Ardor
Baldo Baldi
Castello


are the main, I have also other artisans

Italians magnificent pipes are made, for me, better than anywhere else, most of the briar that is used in the world, is Italian, the best undoubtedly

almost all good craftsmen, renowned worldwide buy their briar in Italy

including Dunhill pipes are manufactured in Italy by Italians for many years, also by Spaniards in Spain

 

[eklektos44]

60% of my 200 over pipes are  Italian

Luigi Viprati
Ser Jacopo
Caminetto
Lanatra
Ardor
Baldo Baldi
Castello


are the main, I have also other artisans

Italians magnificent pipes are made, for me, better than anywhere else, most of the briar that is used in the world, is Italian, the best undoubtedly

almost all good craftsmen, renowned worldwide buy their briar in Italy

including Dunhill pipes are manufactured in Italy by Italians for many years, also by Spaniards in Spain

I concur. Great wine also. :face:

 

[joshoowah]

Italy ranks 30th on the scale of cigarette consumption in the world (1400+ cigarettes per person per year). When I was in Italy for 2 weeks I saw 0 pipes. I suspect the Italian pipe makers are capitalizing on the pipe smoking boom (if you even want to call it a boom) in other countries.

 

[eklektos44]

Italy ranks 30th on the scale of cigarette consumption in the world (1400+ cigarettes per person per year). When I was in Italy for 2 weeks I saw 0 pipes. I suspect the Italian pipe makers are capitalizing on the pipe smoking boom (if you even want to call it a boom) in other countries.

I haven't been to Italy in over 20 years, so I don't have a feel. But I saw a few. That was pretty much true for all of Europe. I frankly don't see many in the US either. Only very rarely. The "boom" may only be among a select few I suspect.

 

[Gus Martinez]

Italy takes over 100 years manufacturing pipes, I have Ardors in my collection done by the grandfather Damiano Rovera, Current artisan of home

year and a half ago, I was in the workshops of Ser Jacopo, L¨anatra, Viprati .... for 15 days with my wife for the whole area of Pesaro, birthplace of the Italian artisans, there is not a boom, they make magnificent pipes many years ago

Examples more

Maurizio, Le Nuvole
Bruto Sordini, Don Carlos
also I have several of them

 

[smoker13]

Gus, there's no doubt that there are MANY Italian pipemakers that are superior craftsmen, the pipes are among the very best in the entire world.

In my small collection I count my Savinelli, Caminetto, and Don Carlos pipes as my very favorite, also my L'anatra and Luciano as well. They look great, feel wonderful in my hand and, of course, they all provide a perfect smoking experience.

You'll find many, MANY here amongst the Brotherhood with collections of Italian pipes that dwarf mine that would agree with you and me.

But the question is, in your travels to Italy did you see many Italian men actually smoking pipes? I'm curious to know if this tradition is being upheld in this country where so many beautiful pipes are being made.

 

[daveinlax]

I would love to go to Italy and make a pilgrimage to Cantu via Milan. Most of the Italian carvers and dealers I encounter at show are heavy cigarette smokers. :shock:

 

[smoker13]

I was reading an article about "Master Blaster" J T Cooke in a 'Pipes & Tobacco' magazine from 2008 and there was a photo of him hard at work...with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth!

 

[Richard Burley]

Generally speaking, who smokes their pipe in public, anywhere, anyhow? I never did, not really, and I've been smoking pipes for half a century. There were and are exceptions, but they are just that. Cigars are handy, cigarettes handier yet, and pipes a pain in the ass, and it's difficult to smoke them in public, at least for me, without feeling dorky. My point is that I wouldn't judge usage by what's casually seen on the street.

 

[smoker13]

Now that's a damn good point, Richard. Pipe smoking, by its nature, prone to solitude and meditative contemplation. Good thinking, man. As far as I'm concerned, my post has been closed.

 

[huffelpuff]

Hummmm......I've never felt dorky smoking my pipes in public. Yes they're definitely a pain when out but it's a part of who I am and I proudly puff away. I expect that Richard is spot on though, most that smoke pipes forgo them in public.

 

[Fr_Tom]

I smoke my pipe in public and at the office, but I am an anachronism in a variety of ways.

 

[smoker13]

There are special dispensations for the clergy, Father. You are removed from the flow of the river of public mores.

 

[SpeedyPete]

I smoke my pipe in public and at the office, but I am an anachronism in a variety of ways.

And so do I.

We visited Italy in May last year and I smoked my pipe in public, everywhere we went. We went north as far as Verese and south as far as the Amalfi coast. I smoked my pipe on the Isle of Capri, Venice, Milan, Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii and many more places, always in public.

We were there for 3 weeks and I met 2 (TWO) pipers, both from the USA !!!

 

[eklektos44]

Italy takes over 100 years manufacturing pipes, I have Ardors in my collection done by the grandfather Damiano Rovera, Current artisan of home

year and a half ago, I was in the workshops of Ser Jacopo, L¨anatra, Viprati .... for 15 days with my wife for the whole area of Pesaro, birthplace of the Italian artisans, there is not a boom, they make magnificent pipes many years ago

Examples more

Maurizio,  Le Nuvole
Bruto  Sordini, Don Carlos
also I have several of them

I have to agree Gus. I've amassed a few myself. Mostly Ascorti, but also:

Mauro Armellini
Caminetto
Radice
Ser Jacopo
Mastro De Paja

I'm looking at Cavicchi,
Viprati, and Don Carlos also.

 

[Ozark Wizard]

I think if it wasn't for PAD, the pipe industry would struggle at best.......

I rarely see pipes being smoked in public. Same with cigars though. Cigarettes, well, it seems the planet is one great ashtray, as I see discarded butts everywhere.

Seriously though, if there was nothing to the reputation of Italian craftsmanship, there would be less enthusiasm for the pipes. So it would appear they tend to be rather well done!

(I don't have any, myself, though. Perhaps later?)

 

[smoker13]

Well, let's face it, Wizard, you don't really need to have anyone else's pipe, you've got the skills to craft your own beautiful smokers, which is truly much hipper.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I've always appreciated how personal and private pipe smoking is.  It's a situation.  It's a context.  I'm more than OK with it being behind the tree line.