MASTRO GEPPETTO PIPES BY SER JACOPO
Giancarlo Guidi was a founding partner in the very famous Italian pipemaking company Mastro de Paja, but over time he felt mired in the day-to-day trials and tribulations of a fast-growing factory and desired a more artistic path. His vision of Ser Jacopo dalla Gemma finally took form in 1982, allowing Guidi to imagine and create uniquely beautiful pipes that captivated pipe smokers around the world. Maurizio Fraternale was Guidi's business partner and took over the company upon his longtime friend's passing in 2012, honoring a promise to keep Guidi's vision of Ser Jacopo alive and well in Pesaro, Italy.
Mastro Geppetto smooth and textured pipes were created by Guidi as an affordable alternative to Ser Jacopo pipes, but there are far more similarities between the two brands than differences. For example, both are handmade by Ser Jacopo's craftsmen using carefully aged Extra Extra (XX) grade Italian briar and the time taken to produce them are virtually identical. Also, stems are hand cut from rod plexiglass (AKA acrylic) for both lines. The two main cost-saving differences lay in the briar and draft hole ~ only Plateaux briar is used to produce Ser Jacopo pipes and the draft holes are drilled with a special flexible drill.
