Pfeifenbox

Back...

Amorelli

Tier:

Country: Italy

Price: € 120+

Production method:

Notes: Based in Sicily, Salvatore Amorelli was a goldsmith until he entered the pipe world in the 1980s. At one time, he employed several helpers to produce some 3500 pipes a year. He uses stars (1 - 5) to grade his pieces, which are commonly based on classical shapes. Unique Amorelli freehands command high prices and are increasingly recognised as world-class premium pipes. The best are graded with gold stars.

Comments: The discreet, clear-cut style of regular-range Amorellis (see picture) holds considerable appeal for smokers who feel uncomfortable with the Baroque side of Italian carving. The emphasis is on aesthetically enhanced utilitarianism, rather than individualist flair. Such pieces are excellent value for money, boasting superb workmanship. The pipes are usually surprisingly light and the stems comfortably thin.

By contrast, expensive Amorelli freehands are often highly imaginative, displaying a degree of eccentricity that sometimes appears to bypass practical demands. To me, these pipes seem to be straining for recognition as 'art' - I miss the easy grace of other makes competing in the innovative niche.

Back...