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SYNJECO SAPIPE MAKERSNEW |
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Baldo was born in 1947, and since his early days he has always been interested in a wide variety of art forms. Once he graduated from the Italian "Artistic High School", he decided to pursue his passion for art further by joining the Faculty of Architecture. While still a a student, he started to smoke a pipe, and not being able to afford the pipes he liked, he decided to make his own! Right from his first pipe, professional tobacconists realized Baldo's talent and started placing orders! His father was a great believer in Baldo's pipes and he helped promote his son's pieces of art. That was the beginning of the career of one of Italy's most renowned and talented pipe makers ever. Later, and a few years after getting his university degree in architecture, Baldo decided to give up his job as an architect and make pipes full time. Even in those early years, making pipes full time meant a maximum annual production of about 200 pipes!
Claudio's background as a pipe maker is not a common one. He has always been a farmer, and when you see his rough hands, you will not believe that those hands can produce such elegant, delicate works of art. He's in his fifties, though he looks much younger. He still spends a lot of his time working his land; he produces lots of kinds of fruit and cereal. He's married to Daniela who plays an important role in the production of the Cavicchi pipes. She polishes mouthpieces, uses fine sandpaper to give the pipe the final smooth feel, and above all, does all the labor-intensive and physically demanding rustication. Claudio and Daniela have one grown up son who no longer lives with them; he has nothing to do with the world of smoking, let alone pipe making.
Bruto was born in the small village of Cagli, where his world-famous Don Carlos pipes are
currently being made. He's in his mid-forties, married with three children. He first got into pipe making about 25 years ago.
At that time, he was studying law, but slowly and surely he developed a passion for the artistry of making a work of art out
of a piece of wood. After having worked for years and years for major pipe making establishments in the area of Pesaro, Bruto
decided to get more independent; that was when he started a partnership with two other pipe makers and founded the Ser Jacopo. After a few years, Bruto took off and started the Don Carlos.
Rosaria is Bruto's wife and business partner. Without her, I wouldn't be talking about the
Don Carlos pipes now, simply because the brand would have never been created! While the Don Carlos pipes are made exclusively
by the hands of Bruto himself, a lot of the finishing touches, such as the application of colorings, are done by Rosaria. However,
that's not where her role ends; that's where it actually all starts. Rosaria is the Don Carlos marketing consultant, accountant,
legal adviser, technical advisor, PR manager, secretary, etc.
Franco is in late forties, married with two children. He used to have a big passion
in life, and that was soccer. He was part of a competitive team for a big part of his life. He reluctantly had to quit
serious competition due injury. He still plays occasionaly with his old team mates. The other passion that appeared
on the scene and filled the gap is pipe making.
Alberto Montini, the owner and general director of Mastro De Paja, was born in Pesaro in 1956.
After completing his studies, and in 1978, he started his career as an accountant. In 1983 he had already reached the position
of "commercial director" at a company specialized in office equipment. It was then that his talent for business was recognized
by Mr. Terenzio Cecchini, who was then the sole owner of Masto De Paja. After long negotiations, Alberto decided to join the
now famous pipe making factory. The brand, under Alberto's direction, soon reached high standards and gained great popularity
on international markets, especially in the USA. Thanks to his hard work and talent for business, Alberto soon became Mr. Cecchini’s business partner. That was only the beginning! In 1995 Alberto became the new owner of Mastro De Paja and has continued his labor
of love to this day.
Marco was born in 1960. He’s married, and he has two children. In his early career,
he had different jobs; for example, he worked in a furniture factory, as a security guard and also as a policeman
("Carabiniere"). In 1983, and being married to Emanuela, the daughter of Mr. Moretti (the founder of the Moretti pipe),
he was so sorry that the family business was about to close down, due to Mr. Moretti’s inability to continue the business
alone not having a son of his own. So, Marco decided to get on board. Soon he discovered his talent and his love for pipe
making.
The maker of the famous French pipe brand is called "Jacques Craen" for official records, "Jacky" for friends, and "Monsieur Genod" for customers (and sometimes even for his factory workers, for simplicity's sake). Monsieur Genod has the art of pipe making under his skin! He was born in the French Jura in 1944, and after completing his compulsory education, at the age of 15, he started work as an apprentice in his grandfather's company. Eleven years later he had mastered the art of pipe making, to the extent that he became the official owner of the company "Pipes Genod" in 1970.
Stefania & Maurizio truly make a perfect couple. Both have a solid background and education as artists. Maurizio has always been interested in sculpture and wood work; Stefania is more into painting and drawing. Both love music and poetry. After having obtained a university degree in art from the Italian Academy of Art, Maurizio fell in love with pipes, as works of art, while passing by a tobacco shop window. He later got the opportunity to work for a famous pipe maker based in Pesaro, where Maurizio has always been living. For the years that followed, he learned more and more the secrets of successful pipe making, particularly the technical aspects. However, it was not enough!
Born in the year 1957 in the County of Brière in the Brittany, the "Far West" of France, Patrice Sébilo (Patrice for his firends) started up his career as cabinetmaker. Later hi works for 13 years in the mechanical and aeronautical Industry.In 1987 (finally and luckily for us as pipesmokers) Patrice stubbornly changed direction and rediscovered the wood whitch he loves so much.
Baldo, being an artist at heart, enjoys many of what he calls "the passions of life". He lives his life making pipes, going to concerts of all kinds, taking care of his beloved camellias and photographing them, cooking, sipping on a vintage wine or champagne, and of course smoking strong tobaccos in his pipes.
Baldo is a confirmed, passionate pipe smoker. He would sometimes make a pipe for himself; at other times, he falls in love with a finished pipe and decides to keep it, while in rare situations he finds a finished pipe not good enough to be sold and so he adds it to his private collection. He now has a collection of about 150 pipes accumulated over a period of 35 years. While most his pipes are Baldi's, there are a few odd brands from his early days as a smoker as well as rare pieces given to him as a gift by his fellow pipe makers.
Baldo smokes his pipe(s) from the time he gets up (yes, even before breakfast) till right before going to bed. He smokes well over an ounce of tobacco a day. His favorite tobaccos are strong Virginia flakes, with and without Perique. These include St. Bruno, Park Lane No. 7, Escudo, Gawith Full Virginia and Flake No. 7. He usually smokes a blend he makes of 50% St. Bruno and 50% Park Lane No. 7.
You can see Baldo's pipes here: The B. Baldi Pipe Gallery .
DANIELA & CLAUDIO CAVICCHI, Cavicchi Pipes
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Claudio has always been a passionate pipe smoker. That is how he started making his own pipes in 1974. Gradually he started making pipes for friends, which led him to receiving the first order from a tobacconist in Bologna in 1985. In Italy, as well as elsewhere, the name Cavicchi is well known; Claudio has won several international pipe smoking contests and championships, including the World Cup in Interlaken, Switzerland, in 1994. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Claudio holds the record for the longest pipe smoke: More than 3 hours and 19 minutes. Unofficially, he once managed to keep his pipe alight during an Italian contest for well over 4 hours, with 3 grams of tobacco! Claudio continues to participate in Italian contests whenever he's not in his workshop making pipes.
Claudio has always been a fan of pressed Virginia tobaccos, with as much Perique as possible. He has smoked Three Nuns and Escudo for a very long time, and to his relief and joy, he just found out that Escudo is once again available. He smokes these tobaccos in pipes he has made for himself in the past 36 years. He has always preferred big pipes, as a smoker and definitely as a pipe maker.
You can see Claudio's pipes here: The Cavicchi Pipe Gallery .
BRUTO SORDINI, Don Carlos
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Bruto occasionally smokes a pipe, usually filled with a natural Virginia tobacco or the Don Carlos blend made for him by
Hans
Schürch (see our tobacco section). He has a small personal collection of pipes, mostly unique piece carrying different names.
In his free time, Bruto loves going around on one of his many
motorbikes (usually at high speeds). He also loves nature, which is available in abundance where he lives and makes his
pipes.
In addition, he is very much fond of eagles, and he has his secret place where he often goes with his binoculars to watch his
beloved vultures!
ROSARIA SORDINI, Don Carlos
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In short, every single Don Carlos that has been made so far has Rosaria's finger prints on it (metaphorically speaking, of course).
You can see Rosaria's pipes here: The Don Carlos Pipe Gallery .
FRANCO ROSSI, Il Ceppo
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Though Franco remains 'new' to the business of pipe making, he has proved himself to be a master pipe maker. All Il Ceppo
pipes are made exclusively by Franco and his sister. Franco takes care of the technical aspects of pipe making
(carving, shaping, drilling, etc), while his sister takes care of the finishing and the tinting of pipes.
Franco is probably the most modest and down-to-earth pipe maker I have known. You tell him that Il Ceppo pipes are great
smoker, he tells you: "Maybe, but those other pipe smokers even better." Oftentimes, he would discard a beautiful pipe in front
of you, simply because he doesn't like it!
You can see Franco's pipes here: The Il Ceppo Pipe Gallery .
ALBERTO MONTINI, Mastro De Paja
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An Accountant by Education, a Businessman by Nature!
In his free time, Alberto loves singing, something he has been praticing for the past twenty years. He's also into acting, and occasionally
he plays roles at several of the local theaters. He finds both singing and acting to be a great way to release the tension that is
associated with his endless business trips and the life-determining business decisions he's faced with more often than he would like.
You can see Alberto's pipes here: The Mastro De Paja Pipe Gallery .
MARCO BIAGINI, Moretti
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In his free time, Marco loves to go fishing and windsurfing. Fishing remains his favorite sport, and in 1992 he was
part of the Italian National Team.
You can see Marco's pipes here: The Moretti Pipe Gallery .
MONSIEUR GENOD, Genod
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Monsieur Genod has been completely enshrined by his passion for pipe making ever since. With the help of his assistants, he produces about 8,000 pipes a year; among these pipes, 500 are "unique pieces". Most of these pipes are sold in the Genod workshop and the shop, run by Monsieur Genod and the people working for him, every day of the week except Sunday.
Monsieur Genod is married and has two sons. He lives in a village not far from Saint Claude. In his free time, he likes hiking in the mountains in summer and downhill skiing during the long winter months. Apart from sports, he likes to listen to classical music that seems to fit the atomosphere in which he makes his pipes; however, he has no particularly favorite composers. While he makes his pipes, and considering the long working hours, he regularly smokes a pipe. A bowlful of "Red Amphora" always helps create the right atmosphere for pipe-making.
Who knows if one of his two sons will one day take over his father's business. Well, judging by the photo, we have a reason to be hopeful!
You can see Monsieur Genod's pipes here: The Genod Pipe Gallery .
Stefania & Maurizio Tombari, Le Nuvole
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A few years ago, Maurizio, with the never-failing encouragement of Stefania, decided to create his own pipe brand in order to be able to express his feelings and experiences through his own creations. "Le Nuvole" was born! Stefania has always played an important role in the birth and development of the name "Le Nuvole". A lot of the artistic shapes are based on her design. She is also a severe critic and would not hesitate to either encourage or discourage Maurizio when a new pipe shape is born.
Maurizio and Stefania primary pastime is going to the sea side, which is very close to their house in the center of Pesaro (naturally weather permitting). They love everything that is natural and unspoiled by man, from the pasta they eat to the sun cream they use when on the beach. Their house is a true artist's house: Nothing is out of place, and there is something to examine and contemplate almost in every corner. Lights are arranged in a way that no only relaxes but also inspire and provokes thought. Music and poetry are abundant in the Tombari residence.
The Tombari's beautiful pipes can be viewed here: Le Nuvole Pipes .
PATRICE SEBILO, "Morta"
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Patrice, very gifted with his hands, undertooks a small pipe factory and was quickly able to gain notoriety within his field. His pipes are certainly very individual, altuogh he modestly maintains the status of a "Craftman".
Patrice is likelihood (we dont know another) the only pipemaker in the world who work with "MORTA" - the wood of the black oaks of the Brière County, which has spent a great deal of time immersed in the marshes.
In addition Patrice is the only remaining active pipemaker in Brittany
Patrice likes his privacy and dont revelate many things about himself. We know and
respect that behavior.
Is it not so, that we often hold our pipe in mouth so that we not must answer to a question, when we feel broken in our privacy . . .
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