ABOUT ME

 

 

My passion for woodworking began when I was just a child.
At that time, I used to spend countless hours in my grandfather’s workshop, experimenting with the pieces of wood he cut for me. My grandfather was a carpenter who later became a luthier and sculptor after his retirement, and his influence shaped my love for working with my hands.

 

 

Throughout my life, I have always been drawn to manual crafts, exploring different forms of art such as painting, music, and wood carving.

 

 

In 2014, I discovered the world of smoking pipes when a friend introduced me to it. Just a few months later, it felt natural to start creating my first pipes, and I quickly fell in love with this craft — though for me, it still feels more like a joyful game than “work.”

 

 

When I first encountered the creations of pipe makers such as Victor Yashtylov, Kent Rasmussen, Tom Eltang, and many others, I realized that pipe making could be much more than a simple craft. With creativity, skill, and a keen eye for harmonious shapes that enhance the beauty of briar, a pipe can come very close to being a true work of art. That revelation made the process even more fascinating to me.

 

 

I am entirely self-taught, though over the years I have had many opportunities to learn from interactions with some of the finest artisans around the world. Their valuable advice has been instrumental in improving the quality of my pipes.

 

 

Every day, my focus is on refining my style, with the goal of making it increasingly personal and recognizable, while continuing to explore and perfect my craftsmanship. My creative journey is constantly enriched by the inspiration I draw from the work of artisans around the world — a vibrant community that, especially in our time, offers an endless source of ideas, perspectives, and excellence.

 

 

Today, my production is around 200 pipes per year. I work exclusively with the highest-quality briar — only plateau and ebauchon extra-extra grade — which I season for about two years before using. Most of my briar comes from Manno and Mimmo Romeo in Italy, while my stems are crafted from high-grade German ebonite (SEM).