Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 678
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Kevin Godbee
- Sep 9, 2025
- 1 min read
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 678. Our featured interview tonight is with Pipe Artisan Jeff Gracik. Our regular listeners will know Jeff from our ongoing series, “Ask the Pipemaker”. Jeff makes J. Alan Pipes and is an expert, artisan pipe maker for over 20-years. Jeff will talk about what it is like to attend the Shanghai pipe show. The inaugural show was last year, and the most recent one was August 8 – 10, 2025. Jeff attended both shows, which is held at the China Tobacco Museum. In Pipe Parts, Brian will talk about pipe shows including why you should go to a pipe show, how to prepare to attend a show, and what it’s like to organize a show.
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The Pipes Magazine Radio Show features interviews with pipe makers, tobacco blenders, pipe and tobacco aficionados, collectors, and more. Episodes air every Tuesday.
Our show is sponsored by SmokingPipes.com, Cornell & Diehl, Missouri Meerschaum, Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos, Peterson Pipes and TinBids. Please give them some consideration when making your next pipe or tobacco purchase.
We hope you enjoy our 1-hour show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector.
Written by Kevin Godbee
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This may seem out of character for Pundit, but I am truly captivated by the Ser Jacopo Insanus. Years ago, I purchased an enormous, barn-sized pipe and tucked it away, only to forget about it. Recently, the urge to hold it resurfaced, prompting a frantic search through my collection until I found my prized Insanus. It’s an impressive, beautifully rusticated paneled bowl with bamboo shank extension—possibly weighing just over five ounces. I love it! To clarify, “insanus” in Latin can mean “incredible.” I must admit, I learned this not from my distant high school Latin but from consulting a dictionary. Okay, a few pipe makers go for heavy-duty pipes, of course. But the Ser Jacopo brand has not been shy about creating, well, great ol’ big ‘uns, and a few that defy the imagination. Some of the Ser Jacopo creations seemingly belong in a museum of art. Which makes sense when you look at the name’s origins. Giancarlo Guidi founded the brand and possibly named it for a 16th-century Italian painter. Now, Pundit does not go gaga for all the Insanus versions. Especially those that appear to have been in a bad accident and are broken and wired together. Or the larger-than-life bowl that twists back onto the stem to surveil your tobacco brand preferences before you load up. Do not get Pundit wrong, here. If your choice is the Insanus that is wired up or the pipe that looks back at you, then I will cheer you on. They are fun and spark a great deal of curiosity, especially in your pipe club gatherings. In research about Insanus pipes, I found that Guidi and Bruto Sordini founded Ser Jacopo in Pesaro, Italy, after leaving Mastro de Paja. They aimed to blend expertise and creativity, establishing Ser Jacopo as a distinct force in Italian pipe making. According to my research, Guidi was inspired by the imaginative art of Picasso and Van Gogh. This led Ser Jacopo artists to push creative limits, carving pipes by drawing inspiration directly from the briar and their artistic instincts. Pundit also owns a couple of Ser Jacopo’s more “sanus” (sic) pipes, including some of the beloved Picta Van Gogh rusticated styles, which have been put away for safekeeping. These pieces stand out for their unique craftsmanship and artistic flair. Van Gogh, you might recall, was a pipe smoker. He painted many self-portraits smoking a pipe. These paintings served as one of the blueprints for the Van Gogh Picta series. I first saw the Picta Van Gogh at a pipes and tobacco show in Nashville, TN. It was love at first glimpse. I bought it faster than you can say Van Gogh. I barely had time to get out my credit card, worried someone else would snatch it up. Some Insanus designs, such as those that appear broken and wired together or feature oversized bowls that twist back toward the stem, exemplify the brand’s boundary-pushing approach. The Picta Van Gogh is but one of a series of pipes in the Van Gogh pipe styles. A few include a cutty, a hawkbill, a Belge and even a poker. All appear in Van Gogh’s artworks. Giancarlo Guidi was inspired not only by Van Gogh but also by the art of other major artists for the different collections within the broader Picta series. Just a couple of these artists in the series include René Magritte and Pablo Picasso. Over time, my preferences have evolved—much like my ageing tobacco blends. As my pipe collection has grown, so has my appreciation for artisanship. I admire Ser Jacopo’s intricate Italian craftsmanship. But I also value traditional British makers and own Dunhills, Ashtons from the William Ashton-Taylor era, and Ian Walker’s beautifully crafted British style pipes. Ian’s pipe shop is on a transformed canal boat. Cool! If you are interested in an American pipe maker who also offers some larger-than-life pipes, check out J.M. Boswell Pipes in Chambersburg and Alexandria, PA. Boswell’s freehand designs and unique finishes are spectacular. Some of his creations feature names such as the Jumbo and Triple X Jumbo. He has also created a monster line known as King Size. These heavy-duty briars can weigh in at over two pounds! One could say they are even muscular. The Kings are worth a look just to see what can be accomplished with briar in an artist’s hands. And these pipes are not only beautifully designed but also offer an exceptional smoking experience. Now, it’s time for a Pipe Smoker of the Past: Rudyard Kipling was born Dec. 30, 1865, in India and died Jan. 18, 1936, in London. He was a journalist, novelist, short-story writer and poet. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907. Even though he was particular about his pipe preferences, his tobacco choice, according to research, was a common black shag pipe tobacco. The black shag tobacco was strong, but popular in the Victorian era. I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble. —Rudyard Kipling A Parting thought: We pipe smokers are part of a rather large family. And with the holidays in full bloom, it is time to be grateful for the artists who create magnificent pipes and craft exquisite tobacco blends. Just for us! Happy Holidays!
Your pipe show mini class was terrific!
It’s great to have Jeff for a full episode. His review of the Chinese pipe shows he attended was truly fascinating and informative. Jeff’s observations and detailed descriptions were so well presented. I was quite impressed. Thanks for the “tour.”
Kirk’s pick of Stephen Wilson Jr.’s “Hunger Strike” was a good choice. I really enjoyed the song and being introduced to this artist.
I sympathize with your Spectrum issues. I can never understand how a service company fails to actually serve its patrons.
Mazel tov on 13 years of always entertaining shows!
Dino