I was first attracted to these pipes aesthetically. I liked the way they looked. I thought that the extra silver work around the rim was just for decoration.
As I considered buying this pipe, I really wanted to know why it was called "Leonardo". Then I found this:
Although I find this interesting, and although I still think that the pipe looks sharp, I don't think that I want one anymore. The goal is to smoke cool, not to smoke hot and have a pipe which does not feel hot. I understand that the King was probably trying to keep a clay pipe cool. This is historically interesting, but maybe not a breakthrough in pipe design.
What do you think?
As I considered buying this pipe, I really wanted to know why it was called "Leonardo". Then I found this:
In 1982 Professor Enrico Fabri discovered a four page document which contained several inventions which seemed like something created by Leonardo da Vinci.
Numerous studies were carried out on these four pages: on the pigments, the materials and the writing style; a carbon 14 test was also carried out to scientifically determine the authorship and age of the document: a Leonardo da Vinci from 1510.
Among the studies contained in the document there is one which mentions a specific request by Louis XII, the King of France: a pipe which would remain as cool as possible.
Leonardo da Vinci devised a twin-walled terracotta pipe which was cooled by the air circulating in the cavity.
Now Ser Jacopo has risen to the challenge of creating Leonardo da Vinci's project and make it tangible using the same technical means but in a different material: briar.
And this has led to the creation of "Leonardo", the pipe that does not get hot, an object rich in history and genius.
Although I find this interesting, and although I still think that the pipe looks sharp, I don't think that I want one anymore. The goal is to smoke cool, not to smoke hot and have a pipe which does not feel hot. I understand that the King was probably trying to keep a clay pipe cool. This is historically interesting, but maybe not a breakthrough in pipe design.
What do you think?