Pfeifenbox

Brands

Il Ceppo

Tier:

Affordable	Mid-grade	Elevated	High-grade	Top
	X

Country: Italy

Price: €120+

Production method:

Factory	Machine-assisted	Freehand
	X

Notes: 'Il Ceppo' means burl, referring to the root-ball of the briar shrub. Franco Rossi bought the brand in 1995, having formerly worked with Bruto Sordini of Don Carlos. He and his sister Nadia make over 1000 pipes a year, half of which are generally exported to the US. Most shapes are based on classical forms.

Grades are 1 (blast), 2 (semi-rusticated), 3 (semi-blast), 4 -7 (smooth), 9 (rusticated).

Comments: Close to elevated status. In terms of reputation, Il Ceppo appears to be edging ahead of several other Italian mid-grades, and this extra attention is well deserved. Rossi doesn't make pipes you would donate to an art museum - his emphasis is on familiarity of design. Yet within that framework, he hints at zeitgeist quite aptly, sharing Castello's discreet approach to shape renewal. Rossi combines such tasteful, unassuming inventiveness with excellent 'engineering' and finishing, including expressive blasts. Alas, he flaunts Italy's faith in acrylic bits (once again, these pose my main gripe).

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