This one could be interesting.

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Hand made in the formative years by the two masters, Radice and Ascorti, unsmoked, unblemished, an archetype form, the bent egg with the uber craggyness, made with really good fine old briar. You want a piece of Italian pipe art history in like new condition, this is it. If I could, I would.
 
I'm sorry but I almost stepped in something on the lawn this morning that looked a lot like that pipe.
 
I understand exactly what these guys are saying and why, but I really like this pipe, I don't like it 450 dollars though

rev
 
alfredo_buscatti":ltwnzo2t said:
In my uneducated opinion, that's an ugly pipe that I'd give ~$30.00 for.
I agree, except that $30 is too high.
 
the rev":ylrjifvb said:
I understand exactly what these guys are saying and why, but I really like this pipe, I don't like it 450 dollars though

rev


I, too, find this pipe compelling. Probably because of, rather than in spite of, its ugliness.


It is fugly!
 
Rob_In_MO":ni1s3zyu said:
Actually I really like that pipe, but not enough to warrant that much money...
Don't worry Rob, you have a much fuglier pipe coming your way... 8)
 
I wouldn't smoke it, not the right dimensions for me, but aesthetics? Not bad. Kind of looks like briar meringue.

8)
 
It's a piece of pipe history. As has been said, carved in the golden age of the Caminetto brand by Ascorti / Radice. I can see why it commanded the price although it is way, way over its original selling price, of course. It's all about the nomenclature stamped there: Ascorti/Radice, it's unsmoked and what one is willing to pay.
 
skaukatt":ct6hob5p said:
It's a piece of pipe history. As has been said, carved in the golden age of the Caminetto brand by Ascorti / Radice. I can see why it commanded the price although it is way, way over its original selling price, of course. It's all about the nomenclature stamped there: Ascorti/Radice, it's unsmoked and what one is willing to pay.
This. It's not that it's such a great looking pipe ( although I've seen this shape done by Caminetto in other colors and with better rustication that looked really impressive) but it's a nomenclature chasers prize. The two boys (Radice and Ascorti) were influencial for a lot of the best work that came out of Italy afterwards, and it was a very small window where they both carved together and signed the pipes as such. The pipe is definitely worth the coin.
 
Is there any way to identify pipes made by the two while they worked at Castello?
Some of the shape 293's bear a resemblance to Luigi and Peppino's early style at Caminetto.
 
Knowing about older Castellos is tough. There isn't much written about them as far as I'm aware. There are no storied chapters like many of the old English houses left us, no works by private collectors that outline specifics of the early years like you find with the British names. At least none that I'm aware of. On top of that, as far as I know, the pipes were sold as carved by Castello the same way Dunhills were carved by Dunhill. Save the very rare oddity, I don't think you'd be able to find any definitive proof that any one individual carved any particular pipe. I believe Charatan and W O Larsen may be the only old carving houses that made it easier to figure out who may have carved what with their higher grade pipes.

That said, it's pretty obvious that certain identifiable traits left Castello and moved on to other carving houses or individuals. It's probably easy to associate a few with Radice, though not very easy with anyone else. If anyone knows of any documented research I'd be all ears.
 
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