Posella Fancy-Grade Tobacco Pipes

The Pipes
Posella Pipes: Fancy-Grade (Unique Shapes)

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Not only is the Posella family business based in Calabria, the land of the best Italian briar, but the family has also been known for decades to be one of the most experienced suppliers of Calabrian briar. For this reason, all Posella pipes, with no exception, are made out of the best briar available in Calabria today, and considering the high quality of Calabrian briar, it is only logical to conclude that the Posella pipes are made out of the best briar in the whole wide world. In addition, most of the pipes produced today are made of briar that has been seasoning for at least 10+ years.

Grade: Fancy 2

Pipe Code:	PS086	Price:	CHF 380.00
Shape:	Panel Freehand	Weight:	63g / 2-7/32 oz
Chamber ų: 22mm -- Chamber Depth: 38mm -- Wall Thickness: ->19mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: This pipe is key to the idea behind the Fancy Grade, particularly on this page, in the company of the other pipes presented here. While the other pipes are either extra large o magnum in size, this pipe is not about size. It is all about shape and the complexity of not only designing it, but more importantly, of executing it with the precision and skilled demonstrated here. I know (hope) that the pictures will do the job and show you what I mean by all that. Indeed, and no matter how much I write, you simply cannot appreciate the beauty, elegance and sophistication of this pipe unless you have it in your hand. The bowl show an incredible 13 panels, all fitting together perfectly, while maintaining their own presence and personality. The shank, on the other hand, shows 8 panels, all executing with extreme precision. The panel concept does not stop there. As you can see, the saddle mouthpiece also follow the 8-panel design at its base, followed by the first round shape of the pipe, which is halfway through the mouthpiece. Apart from the shape, no comment can be complete without mentioning the gorgeous brown color, and the unbelievable masses of tight Bird's Eye around the bowl and shank. As a bonus, and as you would expect, the base of the bowl is flat and the entire pipe is well balanced enough for it to sit on a flat surface without any support.

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Grade: Fancy 2

Pipe Code:	PS087	Price:	CHF 380.00
Shape:	XL Panel Dublin	Weight:	74g / 2-19/32 oz
Chamber ų: 22.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 43mm -- Wall Thickness: ->15mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: Being placed in this exclusive "Fancy" grade, you would expect this pipe to be quite complex in design, and IT IS! Let me provide you with some verbal snapshots of the different aspects that make this shape quite unique. The basic bowl design is that of the Dublin or Bell, but with 8 different panels. The bowl seems to be fluted (that is there is a marked difference in diameter or width between the bowl top and base, and hence the idea of the Bell as opposed to the Dublin). The bowl is slightly and elegantly canted forward. The bowl base is slanted, and with its perfect flatness and balance, it allows the pipe to sit still on a flat surface without support, and the resulting view is fabulous. The bowl top is completely flat, with a slightly inward slanted into the tobacco chamber. The shank is made up of 8 different panels, and it is slightly conical in shape, with the wider base at the bowl. The long, saddle mouthpiece naturally comes with an 8-panel base, which allows it to continue the basic shape design of the shank. Now to the size. Bowl height: 62mm (2.44") Bowl panel widths: 45-54mm (1.77-2.13") Shank length: 44mm (1.73") Overall pipe length: 146mm, ca. (5.75") Apart from the shape design, the pipe comes in a natural color, and it shows an elegant combination of Flame Grain and Bird's Eye. Anyone who likes large pipes realizes how touch it is to find an extra large pipe, in smooth finish, in a natural color AND with beautiful grain. It is like pipes like this one that prove that the briar that Posella has is of the best possible quality and also that his family has been supplying pipe makers with Calabrian briar for many decades!

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Grade: Fancy 2

Pipe Code:	PS100	Price:	CHF 380.00
Shape:	Plateau Freehand	Weight:	92g / 3-1/4 oz
Chamber ų: 23mm -- Chamber Depth: 57mm -- Wall Thickness: 12-23mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: I really, really need you to be patient with me here. There is one thing, and one thing only, that comes to my mind every time I look at this pipe, and I "need" to share this thought with you. As you may know, I'm Egyptian, and pyramids to us, Egyptians, are like types of cereal to Americans, noodles to the Chinese, pizzas to Italians, etc. So, I can't help but imagine the famous Egyptian "Step Pyramid" when I look at this pipe! Here's a link to a picture: Step Pyramid. What do you think? Am I going crazy! As a matter of fact, I'm not really kidding. I strongly believe that this unique design is based on the concept of gradation or steps: To move from the tip of the mouthpiece to the top of the bowl, you need to go up four steps, and then if you're in the mood, you can slide down on either round edges of the bowl. Mind you, the ride is a little bumpy around the top of the shank and bowl. Before I outstay my welcome, let me give you some measurements: Bowl height: 64mm (2.52") Bowl widths: 44-46mm (1.73-1.81") Shank length: 60mm (2.36") Overall pipe length: 153mm, ca. (a litte over 6") Shank width: 19mm (3/4") Shank height: 36mm (1.42")

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Grade: Fancy 2 ~ ViP

Pipe Code:	PS076	Price:	CHF 450.00
Shape:	Magnum Stack	Weight:	99g / 3-1/2 oz
Chamber ų: 23mm -- Chamber Depth: 73mm -- Wall Thickness: 11-22mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes
An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.





COMMENT: You know what happens to you when you get to see this pipe face to face? Well, your heart starts beating faster, sweet begins to build up on your forehead, you feel a little dizzy, and you continue to rub your eye just to make sure you're seeing what you're seeing? You think I'm kidding? I'm not! This is what MAGNUM is all about, and it is not only in a smooth finish, but with impressive, impressive grain. I could go on and on and one, but I'll just give you a few more measurements and hopefully the pictures will bring you closer to believing my theory about the heartbeats and the sweat! Here we go: Bowl height: 83mm (3.27") Bowl panel widths: 41-49-51mm (1.61-1.93-2") Shank length: 57mm (2.24") Overall pipe length: 169mm, ca. (6.65") Shank widths: 7.5-21mm (0.30-0.83") You might be surprised why this pipe doesn't cost double the price asked. Well, there are a few visible sandpits around the bowl, and though you need to look carefully to spot them, they are there, and Posella priced the pipe accordingly. Theres of these sandpits are on the outer side of the bowl, with the Bird's Eye (first picture, second row, on the left); I can't see them in the picture, but they're there! This makes this pipe one exceptionally good deal for anyone who likes extra large pipes. What is truly impressive here it how light in weight the pipe is when you consider the magnum size and the amount of wood there is. Few makers in the world can achieve this, and Posella is on top of the list. After all, he's sitting on a huge pile of first-class briar wood that he's accumulated over the past few decades. Please allow me to reiterate this: It is thanks to the incredible value that Italian pipes offer that you can get a smooth Magnum pipe with beautiful Straight Grain for the price of an ordinary, sandblasted pipe made in another country. It's a fact of life, and yet so many people pretend not to see it! It's sad, really!