The greatest master pipe makers in the world

Master pipe makers are becoming rare, yet a few of them have left a lasting mark on the history of the craft. Here is a round-up of the finest master pipe makers in their field.

Pascal Piazzolla: one of the last master pipe makers

Pascal Piazzola is one of the world’s finest master pipe makers. He is also the most senior, with 57 years of experience behind him. Pascal still shapes pipes in his workshop at Aviernoz, near Annecy. Devoted to his craft, he puts a small part of himself into each of his high-end creations.

Faced with the decline of interest in the pipe, Pascal Piazzolla is among the last French makers still at work. He also repairs pipes and stems in briar as well as in meerschaum.

Pierre Morel: an emblematic figure of Saint-Claude

He is the leading name in briar pipes from Saint-Claude. Unlike many others, his pipes are one-off pieces. His work is entirely handmade, from start to finish.

What sets him apart is his ability to make a pipe from A to Z, mastering every stage himself. He excels at his craft, he says, because he puts no pressure on himself and makes what he feels like making, for his own satisfaction.

Luigi Viprati: he made his first pipe at 19

This master pipe maker is among the best in Italy and indeed in the world. He founded his own brand in 1984 and has shaped all his pipes in Italian briar ever since. His models are shown at several international fairs, where they have met with well-earned success.

Luigi Viprati also sets silver into the briar. That is his signature. His pipes are elegant and highly distinctive, a real pleasure for the eye and for anyone who appreciates fine pipes.

Bruno Nuttens: one of the last 4 pipe makers in France

Based in the Drôme, Bruno Nuttens left website design behind to take up pipe making. He shapes his models with his own hands. Inspired by Pierre Morel, he makes light pipes of excellent quality.

His signature is a deep bowl together with a very slender shank. His work appeals to smokers and collectors alike.

Rolando Negoita: the American pipe maker

Having left for the New World in the 1990s, Rolando Negoita brought together two interests: the pipe and fashion. He has since become an artist at heart, making one-off pipes with the same care each time.

He is now among the leading pipe makers. With a style all of his own, he works at New Paltz, a quiet natural setting away from the big cities.