Description

Happy Holidays!!! This week will be my final round of auctions in 2024, what a year!!! Auctions will resume 1/5 ending 1/12. First and foremost, I want to deeply and sincerely thank all of you for checking out my shop week after week and supporting me as not only patrons but friends. I can't put into words how much it means to me and my family and I've said it a ton of times to many of you but the pleasure is truly all mine! I greatly enjoy being able to offer fine pipes week in and week out and see the joy it brings so many. Being that it's the holidays and it's "retail" time, for my final auctions of the year I decided to offer nothing but unsmoked pipes! There is something for everyone and whether you're treating a fellow pipe smoker to something special as a gift or for yourself, I hope you win an amazing pipe that catches your eye! So, for whatever it's worth, thank you a MILLION for your continued patronage and here's to an even bigger and better 2025! All the best to you and yours during this holiday season. Cheers! -Todd aka Deadmanspipes I was just saying in a post not long ago that I appreciate carvers who grade rustication! Why? Because it should absolutely be graded, it's all unique and one of a kind like grain! There are only a few with Julius Vesz coming to mind, and here we have an R2 grade Spongia with this an impressive pipe indeed. While I love Ser Jacopo's fancier freehand creations, I'm even more partial to their take on classics with this pipe reminding me a lot of a Dunhill LB! It sports a robust bowl that feels amazing in hand not only due to the chubby shape but the rustication is sublime. Walls are super thick and the chamber generous and if you look at the dimensions below they are almost exact to the aforementioned Dunhill LB! Transition is crisp to a muscular round shank that is well proportioned and meets the original acrylic fishtail stem with inlaid silver "J" logo. The Spongia finish here appears natural and the attention to detail in the craggy yet refined rustication is superb! Another phenomenal pipe from the venerable Italian make, this one's ready for its maiden voyage! Nomenclature: SER JACOPO, FATTA A MANO IN ITALIA, PER ASPERA AD ASTRA, SPONGIA, R2 Dimensions (approximate): 5 7/8" Long, 2" Tall, 7/8" Chamber Width, 1 5/8" Chamber Depth Condition: Unsmoked! Weight: 68g Filter: None **I buy individual pipes or entire collections, please reach out for details! Be sure to check out my other fine and rare pipes at auction. Follow me as a seller to be updated first on my fresh listings! I aim to offer the best selection of pipes covering all makes and grades, truly something for every smoker and collector! All of my pipes I personally restore, sanitize, and ready them to smoke upon arrival at your doorstep! I take the utmost care in my restoration methods to ensure the pipe is as close to its original state as possible and never compromise. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy bringing them back to life! Shipping: Domestic is $10 via USPS Priority. International: If you are registered with the Global Shipping Program, the cost for pipes under $500 in value is $10 to ship to eBay's shipping center and then the customs fees/tariffs are calculated there and up to the buyer if they are charged up front or on the back end once processed. Due to an almost 25% increase for Express and Priority Shipping, I am switching back to First Class for $25 moving forward to all international destinations. Express or Priority is available upon request, as is insurance. Any lost parcels will be refunded upon insurance payout. Restoration Methods: I have been restoring pipes for 16 years and have taken bits and pieces from many guys whom I consider the best there ever was in the business and built upon it with my own experience and tricks of the trade. Each pipe is first cleaned by removing all cake, making the chamber smooth and round again if necessary, removing all gunk in the shank and stem with alcohol, then exterior cleaning and polishing of the stummel and stem with no oxidation left but at the same time leaving the vulcanite or acrylic and any logos intact. My restorations end with the pipe looking like new and being completely free from previous signs of use. I do not use salt/alcohol treatments in my bowls but rather if the pipe smells of prior tobacco I will put it in my ozone chamber to make neutral. Lastly, many guys ask me "how are your pipes so shiny!!??" I lightly use the fluffy edge of my white diamond buffing wheel to clean and restore stummels which removes all grime and oils while restoring the original factory luster. I then hand buff and finish with a flannel wheel with high quality carnauba applying multiple coats as they do at the factory as well. This results in the pipe looking as new and will keep it's finish with a simple terry cloth hand buffing at home. Enjoy! -Deadmanspipes