Amorelli Penna Di San Michele Rusticated Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Just about every pipe maker stamps their name or brand on a pipe as a seal of approval for its craftsmanship. Sicily’s Salvatore Amorelli, however, went even further, by deciding that every one of his pipes would not only bear his name, but also an 18 karat gold inlay as a testament to their high quality. Since Amorelli’s founding in 1982, this “gold standard” has remained a guarantee that one is in the presence of a high-grade, handmade Italian pipe. Like so many of the great Italian pipe workshops, Amorelli offers a variety of high-grade pipes in rusticated finishes. Some of these finishes are relatively similar to the approaches taken by other workshops, as in the case of Amorelli’s use of granular, pebble-dash rustication, though most rusticated Amorelli pipes are very different to their Italian contemporaries. One such finish is the “Penna di San Michelle,” which roughly translates to “pen of Saint Michael” in English. Named for the Abrahamic archangel, the Penna di San Michele is meticulously hand-carved with a dense and heavily layered motif intended to evoke the famous wings of its heavenly namesake. The condition is great. Very minor rim darkening.   Details: Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm Weight: 1.3oz / 38g