article

The Collezione museo of Mastro de Paja, historic shapes revive in new pipe designs

Original title: Historische vormgeving herleeft in moderne tabakspijpen van Mastro de Paja

By Don Duco

Abstract: The famous Italian pipe makers of Mastro de Paja in Pesaro, Italy brought in 2008 a special series of five pipe designs based and inspired on historical pipes from various continents and cultures. This article describes the original products and the skilful way Mastro de Paja followed to execute these remarkable objects as contemporary designs perfectly fitting in pipe fashion of today, also adding new shapes to the briar vocabulary. The introduction tells the history of the factory that dates back to 1972 and introduces the reader in the famous school of Pesaro, where Mastro de Paja is the most important factory.

Sorry, we do not have an English text of this article available. See for the full text the Dutch version of our website.

© Don Duco, Pijpenkabinet Foundation, Leiden - Holland, 2008.

Illustrations

1. Makers' mark the sun in solid silver inserted in the acrylic stems of the tobacco pipes. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.366

2. So-called Kaffer pipe carved from a dark green steatite after a model of a German Ulm pipe. South-Africa, West cape, Khoikhoi (Hottentot), 1870-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 15.076

3. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with oval bowl and up going stem inspired on the Hottentots' pipe. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.362

4. Tobacco pipe made from antler with carved decoration of a hunting scene, up going stem with buffalo horn mouthpiece. Lid, stem holder and chains in silver. Germany, Thüringen, Meiningen ?, 1835-1860.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 17.744

5. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with funnel shaped bowl on flat base with acrylic foot and silver band, up going stem with flattened mouthpiece. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.363

6. Tobacco pipe in ceramic, the bowl shaped as the part of a revolver and decorated with incised geometrical patterns. Kenya, 1860-1900.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 11.008

7. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with shape inspired on an African pipes referring to a revolver part, along the front of the bowl and the base an engraved silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.364

8. Tobacco pipe in ceramic with beaker shaped bowl on two feet, straight round stem thinner to the mouthpiece. Mexico, Colima, 200-800.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 12.386

9. Tobacco pipe in briar wood inspired on a pre-Columbian pipe with beaker shaped bowl on flat base continuing in the stem that is four sided and fitted with an acrylic mouthpiece. The stem alternated with a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.365

10. Tobacco pipe in bronze in lost wax method with elbow shaped silhouette and accentuated bowl opening, rims round the bowl and stem, middle stem section roughened with kauri shells and nods. Cameroon, Grassland, 1870-1920.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 4856

11. Tobacco pipe in briar wood inspired on a bronze Cameroon pipe with ellbow shaped silhouette and marking round the bowl and stem. Stem a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 19.366

12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet documentation
1. Makers' mark the sun in solid silver inserted in the acrylic stems of the tobacco pipes. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
2. So-called Kaffer pipe carved from a dark green steatite after a model of a German Ulm pipe. South-Africa, West cape, Khoikhoi (Hottentot), 1870-1900.
3. Brochure with pipe with oval bowl and up going stem inspired on the Hottentots' pipe. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008
3. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with oval bowl and up going stem inspired on the Hottentots' pipe. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008
4. Tobacco pipe made from antler with carved decoration of a hunting scene, up going stem with buffalos horn mouthpiece. Lid, stem holder and chains in silver. Germany, Thüringen, Meiningen ?, 1835-1860.
5. Brochure with tobacco pipe with funnel shaped bowl on flat base with acrylic foot and silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
5. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with funnel shaped bowl on flat base with acrylic foot and silver band, up going stem with flattened mouthpiece. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
6. Tobacco pipe in ceramic, the bowl shaped as the part of a revolver and decorated with incised geometrical patterns. Kenya, 1860-1900.
11. Brochure with tobacco pipe inspired on a bronze Cameroon pipe, stem a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008. 12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
7. Brochure with tobacco pipe inspired on an African pipes referring to a revolver part. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
11. Tobacco pipe in briar wood inspired on a bronze Cameroon pipe with ellbow shaped silhouette and marking round the bowl and stem. Stem a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008. 12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
7. Tobacco pipe in briar wood with shape inspired on an African pipes referring to a revolver part, along the front of the bowl and the base an engraved silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
11. Tobacco pipe in briar wood inspired on a bronze Cameroon pipe with ellbow shaped silhouette and marking round the bowl and stem. Stem a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
8. Tobacco pipe in ceramic with beaker shaped bowl on two feet, straight round stem thinner to the mouthpiece. Mexico, Colima, 200-800.
11. Bowl rim with silver band based on a bronze Cameroon pipe design. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
9. Brochure with tobacco pipe inspired on a pre-Columbian pipe. The stem alternated with a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
11. The mark on the pipes in the series Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
9. Tobacco pipe in briar wood inspired on a pre-Columbian pipe with beaker shaped bowl on flat base continuing in the stem that is four sided and fitted with an acrylic mouthpiece. The stem alternated with a silver band. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
12. Brochure published on the occasion of the series of historic pipes called Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
11. The mark on the pipes in the series Collezione museo. Pesaro, Mastro de Paja, 2008.
10. Tobacco pipe in bronze in lost wax method with elbow shaped silhouette and accentuated bowl opening, rims round the bowl and stem, middle stem section roughened with kauri shells and nods. Cameroon, Grassland, 1870-1920.

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