So, I just bought my first Cristiano pipe, (unsmoked). Don't know much about them and was curious-are they hand-made? Had an itch to buy a pipe and was able to scratch it rather inexpensively with this purchase. An attractive rusticated acorn with silver ferrule.
Cristiano Pipes
- Thread starter irishearl
- Start date
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I have one Cristiano that I picked up from an estate. It's in my weekly pipe rotation.
You can find information about Thomas Cristiano on pipedia.org.
My Cristiano is from his Signature series.
You can find information about Thomas Cristiano on pipedia.org.
My Cristiano is from his Signature series.
The 1 I bought is from the Phidias line. Think SP still have a few of those in the estate section. They are an amazing bargain given their price and the lovely silver work on them.
I was glad to see Paul’s Pipe Shop of Flint, MI set up at the recent Columbus Pipe Show offering some of their massive inventory of Cristiano pipes. It’s tough to find a better handmade aged briar pipeat at that price point.
Here are 3 Cristiano’s I bought from Paul’s some time ago.
That's what I mean about their silver work. Damn fine and reminds me of Ser Jacopo as to silver work. I've always admired the SJ pipes with that sort of silver work but at $500 for SJ vs. $65 for Cristiano, can definitely see the better bargain.
Indeed. According to Pipedia, Mr. Cristiano sadly became a broken pipe on November 7, 2005 while traveling in his native Italy. He was only 53 years old.
One can only wonder what his pipes would have brought if he was a current artisian maker on Instagram today with a flashy website.
One can only wonder what his pipes would have brought if he was a current artisian maker on Instagram today with a flashy website.
Since the 1 I bought was listed as both unsmoked and unstamped, am guessing it was made toward the end of his life, and he died before it could be stamped with someone squirreling it away for some years. I don't care about stamping as I'm not a collector.
I have two. The first I got super cheap on ebay. It came with a bit of chatter on the bit, but was such a nice looking pipe, I just cleaned it well, applied a rubber nubby and smoked it. The second I bought because the first one was so good. It too did not disappoint. Then a couple years later I saw a slew of Cristiano pipes for sale online. I bought one based on my first awesome two. Not awesome. Very bad. Could not recommend. Fit and finish was not nearly as good and it was just a poopstick. I am pretty sure I tossed it, but it may be lurking in one of the pistol cases.
In any event, the ones here more closely resemble my first two, and far exceed them with that awesome silver work. Lovely pipes here!
In any event, the ones here more closely resemble my first two, and far exceed them with that awesome silver work. Lovely pipes here!