Baldo Baldi Tobacco Pipes: Grade BB

The Pipes
Baldo Baldi Pipes: Grade BB

"Perfect and inspired beauty. A work of art that is a testimony to the elegance of pure and clean curves." A Baldi collector.

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Quick guide to Baldi's Grading System (Left-Right : Low-High)
000	00	0	1	2	3	B	BB	BBB	1 Crown	2 Crown	3 Crown

Baldo Baldi, an architect by education, has been making some of the world's most spectacular pipes in tiny workshop close to his house in the center of Genova for over 40 years.

He uses extremely old and well seasoned briar from Liguria, in Italy, and Province, in southern France.

The B. Baldi pipes are as hand made as imaginable. Most of the work is done with files and sandpaper. It takes Baldo anywhere from one day to months to make a pipe, depending on the complexity of the design. To get a glimpse of how Baldo makes his pipes, have a look at the Baldo Workshop.

The Baldi pipes are stamped B. Baldi, preceded (or followed) by the symbol of a pipe, with smoke coming out of it. In addition, each pipe carries one of Baldi's 12 grades.

Pipe Code:	BB062	Price:	CHF 2,500.00 Convert
Shape:	Freehand	Weight:	61g / 2-5/32 oz
Chamber ų: 22mm -- Chamber Depth: 44mm -- Wall Thickness: 13-18mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes
An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.




COMMENT: If I really, really had to give a more familiar shape definition to this shape, and my life depended on it, I would go for "Freeform Canadian". The reason for this is evidently the long, oval shank and the short, tapered mouthpiece, both being the trademark of the Canadian; of course, it is the bowl shape doesn't adopt the basic idea of the Canadian and, in so doing, it forces us to add the word "freeform". I decided to opt for Freehand simply because in spite of the fact that I consider the term "Freeform Canadian" to be only slightly less vague and unrepresentative than "Freehand", "Freeform Canadian" could actually prove very tricky and to some degree misleading! At least, with "Freehand", you don't really know what to expect! In spite of the fact that the bowl and shank base is not flattened, the pipe can rest on a flat surface with no support. Baldo did an excellent job defining the "neck" of the pipe (the part where the bowl and shank meet); that part of the pipe is very well-defined without compromising the fluidity of the shape. Though I'm confident that the pictures should give you an idea of how absolutely fabulous the grain is all over the pipe, I would still like to mention a few things about it. The Straight/Flame Grain is so consistent and regular all around the bowl, even on the side overlooking the shank, where the grain generally tends to either disappear a bit or change direction. The Bird's Eye on the bowl top is so beautiful and uniform and tight it gives you the impression of being almost painted on by hand by a talented painter. The Bird's Eye on the bowl base and the shank top and base is equally stunning. The pipe has one visible sandpit, but luckily it is hidden away from the curious eye, on the bowl base, close to the beginning of the shank. I see this pipe as a great combination of the classic Canadian and a first-class freehand, combined with the incredibly unique Baldi touches and the fabulous briar quality and grain beauty. Whether you prefer freehands or classic shapes, this is definitely a pipe that is worthy of a place in your collection.

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Pipe Code:	BB063	Price:	CHF 2,500.00 Convert
Shape:	XL Bell	Weight:	84g / 2-31/32 oz
Chamber ų: 22mm -- Chamber Depth: 55mm -- Wall Thickness: 13-25mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes
An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.




COMMENT: I'm quite happy with my shape definition above, and let me tell you why. Since the "Bell" is a "Freeform Dublin", then I either say "Freeform Dublin" or "Bell". In this case, "Bell" is definitely much more accurate, considering the marked difference in diameter between the bowl top and base. To be more accurate still, I have to change the word "diameter" to width, since the bowl is oval in shape. The bowl width, from the part facing the shank to the other, is 67mm (2.64 inches), at the top, and 35mm (1.38"), at the base. This, in my opinion, is a solid reason why it is a whole lot more accurate to use the name "Bell" rather than "Dublin". This beautifully shaped bowl, with its rounded edges, particularly at the base, stands in contrast with the 4-panel, tapered shank. This unusual (and fabulous) shift in geometry does not in any way, shape, or form, disrupt the smooth transition from the bowl to the shank. Baldo did just a wonderful job, with his usual, small pieces of sandpaper and small files, making the shank shape appear as an almost natural and logical extension of the bowl. As you can see, the story doesn't end there, since the tapered mouthpiece continues the shape that it inherited from the shank (4-panel) and following the natural "slope" that starts at a height of 14mm (0.55") at the shank-mouthpiece joint down to 4.3mm (0.17") right before the button. Before we leave the shape, I would like to make sure you realize that this is indeed a HUGE pipe. To achieve this goal, here are some extra measurements: The bowl height is 63mm (2.48"). The bowl diameter is 47.5mm x 67mm (1.87-2.64"). The shank width is 21.5mm and down to 19.5mm (0.85-0.77"). The shank height is 22mm and down to 4.3mm (0.87-0.17"). The mouthpiece bit width is 20mm (0.79"). The overall length of the pipe is 155mm (6.1"). In addition to all this, the grain is one of the most appealing aspects of the pipe, with absolutely gorgeous Flame Gain around the bowl and some "deliciously" tight and uniform Bird's Eye on the bowl top, as well as on the shank top and base. I could go on, but I'll have mercy on your eye and head!