Ser Jacopo
Ser Jacopo (provided by Marble Arch Ltd., US importer and distributor of Ser Jacopo)
Smokingpipes.com has an excellent concise history available on their website Ser Jacopo History at Smoking Pipes.com
Ser Jacopo, better to say Ser Jacopo dalla Gemma, was started by Giancarlo Guidi in 1982 upon leaving Mastro de Paja.
Giancarlo Guidi and Bruto Sordini broke away from Mastro de Paja in 1981 in pursuit of their own company. Ser Jacopo was named after an Italian nobleman. Guidi and Sordini, having taken part in creating the now infamous Pesaro "school" of pipe making, wanted to expand further. To accomplish this, Ser Jacopo focused their efforts on the pairing of the briar with a seemingly endless variety of mounts. Through the use of precious metals and stones, horn, and exotic woods Ser Jacopo pipes are given unique characters that many collectors find quite aesthetically pleasing. Although Ser Jacopo pipes borrow heavily from classical shapes, they are indeed quite unique in style.
- Picta Magritte #15 S2 Sandblast, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
In addition to creative mountings, Ser Jacopo is also well known for making themed pipes, and the most famous of these themes is perhaps the Picta Series, where pipes are modeled after pipes seen in pictures by and of famous artists such as Vincent Van Gough, René Magritte, and Joan Miró.
Ser Jacopo offers multiple grades of pipes, with the "entry" level being the Geppetto and La Fuma Finché Tira lines. There is also a line of seconds known as Modica. Ser Jacopo's finest offerings are reserved for the Gem Series, which are further divided into five individual grades represented by the gemstone they are named after. Gem Series pipes are distinguished by a gemstone of the corresponding grade, mounted on the stem in an 18k gold setting. In ascending order, the Series consists of Smeraldo (Emerald), Granato (Garnet), Zaffiro (Sapphire), Rubino (Ruby), and Brillante (Diamond).
- Gem Series Fiammata Granato (Garnet) Maxima with 18k Gold Mount, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Photos by PipesOnRattan
- A Sampling of Gem Series Pipes, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Zaffiro (Sapphire) with 18k Gold Mount
Granato (Garnet) Delecta
Early Granato (Garnet) Delecta
Granato (Garnet) Delecta
Smeraldo (Emerald) Pulchra
Smeraldo (Emerald)) Domina 1996
The small Ser Jacopo shop produces approximately 6000 pipes per year. The pipes are known for using outstanding Italian briar, which is well seasoned. The pipes have earned a well-deserved reputation for having excellent smoking qualities, equal or better than any other fine Italian pipe maker (or, for that matter, any other pipe maker in the world).
Giancarlo Guidi passed away on August 6, 2012, leaving behind a great legacy. He was 64 years old.
Limited Editions
In addition to their standard pipes and the various Picta lines, Ser Jacopo offers a number of limited edition and commemorative releases each year, notably the Domina and Historica lines.
Domina
Beginning in 1996, Ser Jacopo began releasing a pipe of the year which they call Domina. Each pipe is handcrafted from the finest Italian briar and offered in a variety of finishes and grades, including the Gem Series grades if/when the quality of briar permits. The release is limited to 333 numbered pipes annually. Domina pipes are presented in a custom display case similar to that used for Gem Series pipes along with a brochure documenting the series with images of the Domina from each year.
Taken from the brochure that accompanies each Domina, Ser Jacopo has this to say about their "Queen of the Year":
Every year we want to celebrate a special moment, a meeting of harmony between artisan and smoker, thinking of that year’s tastes and trends, and all that was said among pipe lovers on their needs and desires. Words heard and transformed in an object that represents the taste of celebration. With Domina, which marks this year, we propose to grow in experience and harmony. As all things precious, Domina is crafted in a limited edition of 333 pieces.
- Domina 2001 Gem Series Fiammata Smeraldo (Emerald) Pipe 110/333, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Photos 1 & 4 by BollitoPipe, Torino
- Domina 2020 L2 D Pipe 01/333, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Photos 1-3 by Al Pascia, Milano
Being the prototype (pipe 01), this pipe was pictured in the 2020 Domina brochure that accompanies each pipe
Historica
The Historica limited edition was established in 2009 and endeavors each year to showcase a modern rendition of one of Giancarlo Guidi’s distinctive and novel designs looking back at the firm’s 40 years of expert craftsmanship. Like the Domina, the series is offered in a number of finishes and grades, including Gem Series grades when the quality of briar allows. Each pipe is numbered and presented in a custom black display case accompanied by a brochure documenting the Historica series and featuring images of each year’s release.
The series’ first release was the iconic Delecta, marking Ser Jacopo’s 25th anniversary. This was followed by the Nauta (2010), Senecta (2011), Luciano (2012), 30° (30th Anniversary - 2013), Calabash (2014), Dome (2015), Captain Warren (2016), Lacus (2017), 35° (35th Anniversary - 2018), Mons (2019), Pulchra (2020), Picta Van Gogh (2021), 40° (40th Anniversary - 2022), Picta Magritte (2023), and Cymatium (2024).
- Historica Releases - Senecta, Captain Warren, and Mons, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Historica 2011 Senecta L2
Historica 2016 Captain Warren L2 Pipe 01
Historica 2019 Mons S2
- Historica Releases - Pulchra and Van Gogh, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Historica 2020 Pulchra S2
Historica 2021 Van Gogh L2 Pipe 01
- Commemorative 1996 Austria Millennium - Pipe 126 of ?, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Photos by Todd Becker
Nomenclature
The standard nomenclature found on Ser Jacopo pipes is as follows:
Ser Jacopo Fatta A Mano In Italia Per Aspera Ad Astra
Fatta A Mano translates to "Made By Hand". Per Aspera Ad Astra is a Latin phrase found on Ser Jacopo pipes and is the Ser Jacopo motto. It translates to "To the Stars Through Travails", meaning that success comes through hard work. In the Summer 1997 Pipes and Tobaccos article Giancarlo Guidi translated this as "through a difficult way until the stars are reached".
Ser Jacopo Pipes are generally found in one of three finishes (rusticated, sandblast, smooth) designated by a letter and number code:
R1: Rusticated, dark brown or plum finish. R2: Rusticated, light brown finish. S: Sandblast, black S1: Sandblast, dark brown S2: Sandblast, light brown S3: Sandblast, tanshell L: Smooth, red, usually with silver trim L1: Smooth, flame grain, various finishes L2: Smooth, straight grain, various finishes L3: Smooth, straight grain extra, discontinued
Gem Series Grades (in ascending order):
Smeraldo - Emerald
Granato - Garnet
Zaffiro - Sapphire
Rubino - Ruby
Brillante - Diamond
In addition to the finish code, oversized pipes are also stamped "Maxima", and giant pipes are stamped "Maxima Maxima".
- Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka
- Several nice examples, Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi
Rusticated Bulldog Shape
Sandblasted Bent Brandy Glass Shape
Smooth Hawkbill Shape
- Mastro Geppetto, made by Ser Jacopo example and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka
Dating Pipes
Dating Ser Jacopo pipes is somewhat difficult, because Ser Jacopo does not generally use date codes (the exception being the Diamond Gemma series pipes, which are dated coded). Early pipes (from 1983 to 1997) featured a red coral dot on the mouthpiece, sometimes found encircled in a silver ring. This was discontinued and changed to a sterling silver letter "J". On the Gemma series of pipes, the mouthpiece logo is a precious stone surrounded by an 18k gold ring.
- Early & Recent Delecta Sandblasts, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
- Early Delecta S1 with Horn Mount, Courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection
Photos by Chance Whittamore
- The following is an information article on Ser Jacopo on the Al Pascia website.
Contact Information:
Ser Jacopo dalla Gemma Giancarlo Guidi 61100 Pesaro (Pesaro e Urbino) Italy Website Ser Jacopo