(Non-Danish) European Artisan Pipes

[pipesinperu]

It seems like I don't hear very much about European artisan pipes. Is there something I don't know that everyone else does that makes them less desireable than those by American carvers? You hear about the Danish ultra-high-grade makers, but I'm thinking of mid- to high-level brands like Jacono, Il Duca, Don Carlos, or Le Nuvole in Italy, or Volmer & Nilsson in Sweden. Do they have a following? I don't see much talk about them on here. Are American artisan pipes in the same price range that much better?

 

[mso489]

Although he is Danish, Mogen Johansen who makes Johs pipes makes a tremendous volume of pipes for one carver but does an excellent job in my opinion, and keeps the prices really accessible. I've bought several that exceeded expectations, especially in the weight of the briar, incredibly light.

 

[misterlowercase]

Are American artisan pipes in the same price range that much better?

For the most part, and especially for the upper-tier makers, I'd say yes to that question.
The good American makers are probably making some of the best stuff in the world at the moment.
It really is staggering about exactly how far the American artisan scene has come,

worldbeaters no doubt.
That said,

I have a pipe from a Brazilian maker named Martelo,

he's on point:

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/martelo/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=169061
His FB page is well worth looking at,

he's doing some beautiful stuff...

https://www.facebook.com/martelopipes
...and,

there is a French maker who I've been interested in ever since I saw the Pipes&Tobaccos Magazine write-up about him,

David Enrique.
Finally this summer I approached him with a commission and he accepted,

I can't wait until the pipe is in my hands,

it'll be a tan blast and slightly shorter version of this:

http://www.enriquepipes.com/en/galerie/2014/squashrhodesianshell.htm
He's been making pipes for quite a good while now and knows what he's doing,

he should have more exposure because he's got the chops in my book!
You mention Il Duca,

and he's been on my list too,

ain't heard nothing but positive things about him and his work and I hope to get something by him at some point...

he's gotta great website:

http://www.ducapipe.com/
...and I keep an eye on lepipe or alpascia for new offerings,

I like how he has diverse shapes available, and he knows how to sandblast very well too!

http://www.lepipe.it/english/catalogo.asp?scat=57
If you may be interested in newer makers, there's a guy in Japan who's coming along quite nicely, I have one of his Dunhillesque 305 nosewarmers and it's a damn fine pipe --- I think he's doing interesting stuff,

his insta:

https://instagram.com/ks_pipes/
Glynn Quelch has been carrying his stuff...

http://www.gqtobaccos.com/ks-pipes/
My absolute favorite maker at the moment is Gian Maria Gamboni and nary a word is hardly heard about his stuff, yet it always sells pretty quickly, especially the signature squat stuff --- his eye for shaping is right up my alley and his pipes have a soul, which is important to me, the tactile feel is incredible, and the stainings he does are very pleasing to the eye --- I have 5 of his pipes and I'm eager for a few more!

http://www.gianmariagamboni.com/cgi-bin/jperl/jpipes.pl
::

 

[gloucesterman]

I think the Italian Artisans are right up there in quality. Some of their pricing is pretty expensive (for exceptional pieces) but they also produce a volume of work solidly in the mid-Range. Radice, Ascorti, Caminetto and Ser Jacopo come to mind. Americans are producing some exceptional work, but the Italians are pretty close if not their equal.

 

[moriarty]

There are some great European pipemakers outside Denmark. Bear in mind that some of them do not focus on the American market. Paolo Becker used to sell most of his pipes in America and he became the best known high-grade European pipemaker on forums like this one. Was he the best, or just the one you heard most about? Many of the European pipemakers sell in the European and Asian markets and are not as well known in America.
I honestly believe that for some years now Maurizio Tombari (Le Nuvole) has been the best Italian pipemaker, and I have a large collection of his. Others that I like very much and have experience of are (in no particular order) Chris Asteriou in Greece, Uwe Jopp in Germany, Jonas Rosengren in Sweden. Maksim Nazarenko in Ukraine, and Sergey Ailarov in Russia. Also, like one of the other posters, I have a few Gianmaria Gamboni pipes and they are great - I just wish he used stains that didn't taste so strongly and that he used better quality ebonite (this was also an issue with Becker and Gianmaria clearly uses similar supplies). But Gamboni deserves more credit too and he is a relatively new carver so I'm sure this will come.
I have a good selection of pipes from American pipemakers and, no, I do not think they are better than the Europeans. American carvers have advanced the art of sandblasting tremendously, though, and there are some excellent pipemakers in America. To me, Adam Davidson and Larry Roush are the standout American carvers, and they have unique voices and wonderful quality. I find many of the other American pipemakers a little derivative and similar to one another or to the Danish.
These are all personal judgements, of course. My own taste.

 

[moriarty]

I should add Geiger pipes from Sweden. Sadly I don't have one but I look at each one with envy.

 

[stanlaurel]

I have a Rafa Martin from Valencia Spain. Excellent pipe.
Here is his site.

 

[misterlowercase]

Also, like one of the other posters, I have a few Gianmaria Gamboni pipes and they are great - I just wish he used stains that didn't taste so strongly and that he used better quality ebonite (this was also an issue with Becker and Gianmaria clearly uses similar supplies). But Gamboni deserves more credit too and he is a relatively new carver so I'm sure this will come.

So glad to hear from another Gamboni fan.
I think you may be right about the stains tasting overly strong, mine have had to have rather extended break-in periods possibly because of this.
And his bowl coating is acrid, I must sand it out when I get a new one because the taste isn't agreeable, but it's all worth it to me because his work is so unique and I've grown to love his very individualized take on British classics.

Chris Asteriou in Greece

A dreampipe I hope to one day acquire,

undoubtedly a very refined and artful maker.

I should add Geiger pipes from Sweden.

Another dreampipe.

I need to get the new P&T which features them.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Marco Biagini of Moretti Pipes makes some damn fine smokers. Have one of his huge magnums, and it smokes like a dream.

 

[moriarty]

And there are also Cornelius Maenz (Germany), Peter Matzhold (Austria), Paul Becker (Germany), Ingo Garbe (Germany), Wolfgang Becker (Germany), Herman Hennen (Germany)...
Masses of high-grade pipemakers who are difficult to get outside of Europe.

 

[moriarty]

Misterlowercase, I couldn't agree more about the Gambonis. I don't know whether it is the bowl coating or stain (or both) that is bothersome, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy more. Great shapes and stains. I think he is the true successor of Paolo Becker - the influences are all there but Gianmaria has taken them into a great new direction.

 

[clickklick]

Some great talent mentioned above! You may not hear much because they don't specifically market to the US. That and the estate market is soft on some of their values.

 

[iamn8]

Cornelius Mänz Pipes are drawing staggering prices. I believe he's German.

 

[mso489]

In the U.S., Bob Hayes is an outstanding carver, but you don't see much of his work because people don't resell it. Understated traditional shapes done with varied textures and finishes.

 

[bigpond]

I think this is an issue of distribution more than anything else. There are few outlets that are bringing in anything but the old, well established names/brands which are then frequently sold for a high margin relative to the EU price for the same grade.

I honestly believe that for some years now Maurizio Tombari (Le Nuvole) has been the best Italian pipemaker

Hmm, what makes his pipes stand out to you?

 

[dmcmtk]

I'll put a couple of names on the list, Dirk Claessen,
http://claessenpipes.com/index.html
and also, Chris Askwith,
http://askwithpipes.com/

 

[moriarty]

Bigpond, I admire Le Nuvole pipes for several reasons, but for me it is the shaping more than anything. Maurizio's shaping is beautifully neat and precise, and his designs are nicely modern, elegant, and artistic without losing their "pipeness". He has been making his own pipes for nearly twenty years, and spent more than twenty years before that at Mastro de Paja and Ser Jacopo. He and his wife, Stefania have art backgrounds and I think you see this in the pipe designs they create. His pipes show a great deal of care and love, and he has never stopped experimenting and honing his pipemaking. For me it is all about the beautiful lines of his pipes.
I think he has outstanding briar, like some Italian artisans do, and his pipes are typically lightweight and beautifully grained. All of my Le Nuvoles have been excellent smokers. Maurizio puts this down to his curing environment.
And he does not apply any coating inside the chamber. Nothing is hidden, the stain is applied neatly, and you can taste the briar. The stemwork is refined, and he uses high-quality ebonite and cumberland.
There is a lovely photo presentation that a local art student made in Maurizio's workshop, where you can see some of the care he puts into his pipes and his experienced hands at work.
http://youtu.be/um65aeU8KTU
Here are a few of his signature shapes, from my collection. They are among my favourite pipes.

 

[dmcmtk]

Moriarty, those are some nice looking pipes! That bent scoop shape on the right is just very cool!

 

[moriarty]

Here's a better photo of the scoop, so you can see the shape.

 

[dmcmtk]

Yup, very cool, lovely pipe.