Ardor Sherlock Holmes Urano
The Ardor Pipe brand was founded in 1974 by Angelo Rovera and his son Dorelio. The name comes from the “AR” for Angelo Rovera and “DOR” for Dorelio Rovera. The Rovera family has a tradition of pipe craftsmanship dating back to 1911 when Angelo’s father Francesco and his three brothers founded the Sociedade Rovera pipe making firm in Varese, Italy. At that time, pipes were made by machines that used watermills as the power source for cutting and shaping the briar.
Unlike the pipes made by Sociedade Rovera, all Ardor pipes are completely handcrafted with a very high level of design and finishing. Only the finest Italian plateau briar is used, which is selected personally by Dorelio and his son, Damiano. The briar is then air-cured for a minimum of ten years. This extended seasoning is responsible for the exceptionally cool and dry smoking characteristics found in Ardor pipes. The mouthpieces are cut from slabs of acrylic and fashioned by hand in the Ardor shop. The individuality of each Ardor pipe is evident and no two are exactly alike.
Around the turn of the millennium, Dorelio and Damiano introduced the Sherlock Holmes series of limited-edition pipes inspired by the legendary literary sleuth’s calabash. The series was limited to 100 pipes of varying finish (this one being pipe 20/100), and a new shape was released each year for 14 years thereafter. Beginning with the second series, a Roman numeral was used in the stamping to denote the series number. This pipe is from the original or first S. Holmes series dating from 1999. Many collectors–myself included–feel that this design was the most beautiful, graceful, and elegant of the entire Sherlock Holmes series.
Finished in Ardor’s Urano jet black rustication with warm walnut highlights, the pipe features a remarkably slender Ninfea-styled silver spigot stem mounting. The calabash-styled rim was left smooth and finished in a beautiful walnut contrast stain that dramatically enhances the overall look and feel. The acrylic stem utilizes Ardor’s proprietary Pennellessa swallowtail design. Measuring nearly 6.5 inches in length with a bowl height of 2.5 inches, the pipe is exceptionally lightweight for its size; a testament to the quality of briar used.
How did Dorelio & Damiano conceive of such a stunningly beautiful design? Elementary, my dear Watson.
Ardor Sherlock Holmes Urano
The Ardor Pipe brand was founded in 1974 by Angelo Rovera and his son Dorelio. The name comes from the “AR” for Angelo Rovera and “DOR” for Dorelio Rovera. The Rovera family has a tradition of pipe craftsmanship dating back to 1911 when Angelo’s father Francesco and his three brothers founded the Sociedade Rovera pipe making firm in Varese, Italy. At that time, pipes were made by machines that used watermills as the power source for cutting and shaping the briar.
Unlike the pipes made by Sociedade Rovera, all Ardor pipes are completely handcrafted with a very high level of design and finishing. Only the finest Italian plateau briar is used, which is selected personally by Dorelio and his son, Damiano. The briar is then air-cured for a minimum of ten years. This extended seasoning is responsible for the exceptionally cool and dry smoking characteristics found in Ardor pipes. The mouthpieces are cut from slabs of acrylic and fashioned by hand in the Ardor shop. The individuality of each Ardor pipe is evident and no two are exactly alike.
Around the turn of the millennium, Dorelio and Damiano introduced the Sherlock Holmes series of limited-edition pipes inspired by the legendary literary sleuth’s calabash. The series was limited to 100 pipes of varying finish (this one being pipe 20/100), and a new shape was released each year for 14 years thereafter. Beginning with the second series, a Roman numeral was used in the stamping to denote the series number. This pipe is from the original or first S. Holmes series dating from 1999. Many collectors–myself included–feel that this design was the most beautiful, graceful, and elegant of the entire Sherlock Holmes series.
Finished in Ardor’s Urano jet black rustication with warm walnut highlights, the pipe features a remarkably slender Ninfea-styled silver spigot stem mounting. The calabash-styled rim was left smooth and finished in a beautiful walnut contrast stain that dramatically enhances the overall look and feel. The acrylic stem utilizes Ardor’s proprietary Pennellessa swallowtail design. Measuring nearly 6.5 inches in length with a bowl height of 2.5 inches, the pipe is exceptionally lightweight for its size; a testament to the quality of briar used.
How did Dorelio & Damiano conceive of such a stunningly beautiful design? Elementary, my dear Watson.