This listing is a good object lesson for (new) smokers who are considering buying pipes (in this case, eBay). I'm not trying to scare you off of doing so, just pointing out some things to look for. The seller makes claims that don't match the pipe.
Ser Jacopo smooth Dublin:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SER-JACOPO-FATTA-A-MANO-STRAIGHT-STEM-BRIAR-SMOKING-PIPE-ITALY-/251584768341?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
Things to notice:
1 - Very dark nomenclature
2 - Top of the bowl picture
3 - Shank / tenon joint (where the stem meets the bowl)
4 - Stem logo. Red coral dot (pipes made from late 1984 to 1997)
5 - Matte finish
6 - L in circle nomenclature
The seller replied:
Very dark nomenclature, as in this pipe, indicates that the pipe was stained after the pipe was marked. Pipes are stamped after they're stained precisely to avoid this.
#2
In the picture looking down into the bowl you can see that the left side of the pipe isn't symmetrical with the right and it's shape is slightly irregular. This is inconsistent for most makers, especially top makers like Ser Jacopo but it is consistent with an attempt to reshape the bowl (sanding).
#3
The shank slopes slightly as it meets the stem. This is consistent with a replacement stem. The stem looks as though it may be original (logo and shaping of the button - end of the stem). If it's not a replacement stem then the shank was sanded.
Points #1 to #3 indicate that this pipe was sanded and then restained. You'd look for the same indications in pipes of any manufacture. Points #4-#6 are brand specific to Ser Jacopo.
#4
The seller claims that the pipe was purchased sometime after 2008 but by stem logo it was made at least 11 years before and by style possibly 10 years earlier than that (Jacopo made several of this shape in the mid 1980s). It's a slight possibility that this pipe was NOS (New Old Stock) and it was purchased unsmoked 20 years after it was made.
#5
Ser Jacopo didn't make a matte finished smooth but it's possible that the picture makes it look that way.
#6
Ser Jacopo used L1, L2 and earlier L3 as nomenclature for their smooth pipes, not an L in a circle.
Conclusion:
This pipe has a lot of red flags. I believe that it was sanded and slightly reshaped (bowl), marked with the L in a circle and then stained. The stain infiltrated the existing nomenclature and made it dark.
The pipe still has quality but you should understand what you're buying or bidding on and if this seller is indeed the original owner then his story and description don't match the pipe.
Hope that this helps.
Ser Jacopo smooth Dublin:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SER-JACOPO-FATTA-A-MANO-STRAIGHT-STEM-BRIAR-SMOKING-PIPE-ITALY-/251584768341?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
Things to notice:
1 - Very dark nomenclature
2 - Top of the bowl picture
3 - Shank / tenon joint (where the stem meets the bowl)
4 - Stem logo. Red coral dot (pipes made from late 1984 to 1997)
5 - Matte finish
6 - L in circle nomenclature
The seller replied:
#1Bought this pipe 4 or 5 years ago...That is why the pipe is still in such excellent condition. I'd estimate it wasn't smoked more that 10 or 12 times. I was the original and only owner.
Very dark nomenclature, as in this pipe, indicates that the pipe was stained after the pipe was marked. Pipes are stamped after they're stained precisely to avoid this.
#2
In the picture looking down into the bowl you can see that the left side of the pipe isn't symmetrical with the right and it's shape is slightly irregular. This is inconsistent for most makers, especially top makers like Ser Jacopo but it is consistent with an attempt to reshape the bowl (sanding).
#3
The shank slopes slightly as it meets the stem. This is consistent with a replacement stem. The stem looks as though it may be original (logo and shaping of the button - end of the stem). If it's not a replacement stem then the shank was sanded.
Points #1 to #3 indicate that this pipe was sanded and then restained. You'd look for the same indications in pipes of any manufacture. Points #4-#6 are brand specific to Ser Jacopo.
#4
The seller claims that the pipe was purchased sometime after 2008 but by stem logo it was made at least 11 years before and by style possibly 10 years earlier than that (Jacopo made several of this shape in the mid 1980s). It's a slight possibility that this pipe was NOS (New Old Stock) and it was purchased unsmoked 20 years after it was made.
#5
Ser Jacopo didn't make a matte finished smooth but it's possible that the picture makes it look that way.
#6
Ser Jacopo used L1, L2 and earlier L3 as nomenclature for their smooth pipes, not an L in a circle.
Conclusion:
This pipe has a lot of red flags. I believe that it was sanded and slightly reshaped (bowl), marked with the L in a circle and then stained. The stain infiltrated the existing nomenclature and made it dark.
The pipe still has quality but you should understand what you're buying or bidding on and if this seller is indeed the original owner then his story and description don't match the pipe.
Hope that this helps.