Posella Grade Star Tobacco Pipes

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Posella Pipes: Grade Star (2, 3, 4)

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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.

Pipe Code:	PS010	Price:	CHF 240.00 Convert
Shape:	Freeform Pot	Weight:	58g / 2-1/32 oz
Chamber ų: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 34mm -- Wall Thickness: 15mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: This shape is clearly a combination of two of the most classic and traditional pipe shapes: The Pot and the Dublin. I decided to make the Pot the principal one, since the bowl is too short (squatted) to allow the Dublin to be the dominant shape. Actually, the story doesn't stop there, since my beloved Lovat does have some presence here due to the "seemingly" long shank, combined with the short, saddle mouthpiece. I'm saying "seemingly" long because the bowl height is almost identical to the length of the shank, which brings us to the Billiard and not the Lovat. This complex shape design is complemented with what a lot of makers would not hesitate to describe, grade, and sell as a Straight Grain pipe, which it is. The only difference here is that Posella substantially downgraded the pipe for a couple, visible sandpits (one close to the shank; see first picture, on the right), and another on the outer side of the bowl (the side across from the one facing the shank). Add to this the fact that the bowl top carried partially rustication, and you star to better understand why Posella is not selling this pipe as a Straight Grain one. All this means that if you like this pipe and you decide to add it to your collection, you will be getting manifold value of your money, considering the low price being asked.

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Pipe Code:	PS017	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	XL "Bell"	Weight:	83g / 2-15/16 oz
Chamber ų: 21.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 40mm -- Wall Thickness: 16mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: Here's another quite unique shape. Now that I have commented on 16 Posella pipes, I do have the impression that he is fond of freeform shapes, and I must admit that he truly excels at it. This shape is no exception. The pipe is quite large, and it comes with so much wood all over the place: Large bowl, and quite a long shank. A very elegant touch, one that I have learned to appreciate a lot over the years, is the way the bowl and shank are shaped to meet. Notice the delicate angle created by these two meeting and how well defined the shank is, in spite of its being connected to this rather such a bowl with such a large diameter. The bowl top is concave AND wavy at the same time. Another reason why this pipe is a beauty is the incredibly good grain, which is a combination of Flame and Straight Grain, around the bowl, and massive Bird's Eye on the bowl top. Note how the Flame Grain is carried forward onto the two sides of the shank. Posella opted for an elegance, and uniquely shaped, saddle mouthpiece, and I must admit the whole pipe has so much balance to it in spite of its large size.

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Pipe Code:	PS018	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	Freeform Dublin	Weight:	83g / 2-15/16 oz
Chamber ų: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 46mm -- Wall Thickness: ->19mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: The difference between the Dublin and the Bell (which I came up with years ago) is becoming hazier and hazier in my eyes. As I'm a bit torn between the two, I decided to go with the Dublin, since it is the origin of the Bell. The pipe is another massive piece, mainly length-wise, rather thank sheer bowl size. The shank alone measures 67mm (2.64 inches), and when you add the mouthpiece, with its briarwood insert, you arrive at a total length of about 80mm (3.15 inches). This long shank, combined with the short saddle mouthpiece, has to cause us to think of the Lovat, but nothing more than "think". The shank is not only long, but thick as well, with a diameter of 21mm (0.83 of an inch). The pipe exhibit excellent Flame Grain around the bowl, particularly on the left-hand side, and on most of the shank, while the bowl top is nothing but Bird's Eye. Though the pipe is on the heavier side, the short, saddle mouthpiece and the ideal angle at which the pipe is bent should leave to the maximum possible comfort level. PS: I added that last photo only to show you where the mouthpiece is removed and how the insert is actually part of the mouthpiece and not the shank.

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Pipe Code:	PS025	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	"Tomato"	Weight:	83g / 2-15/16 oz
Chamber ų: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 37mm -- Wall Thickness: ->20mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: If you manage for a second to cut out the bowl and concentrate on the shape, you should be able to see the "Tomato", which I believe is the closest unconventional shape to the one here. I have always been fond of this shape, and I keep wondering why it's so rare to find, let alone in such impressively large size. Speaking of size, and while the pipe is quite large, with so much wood all over, the overall shape is nothing short of extremely delicate and well balanced. It is safe for me to say, with no hesitation, that this pipe is one of the most elegant and unique Posella shapes currently on my site, and it will definitely be among the top 10, regardless of the brand. Yes, this is how much I like it. The grain is a mixture of beautiful Flame Grain, particularly on the lower part of the blow, and Bird's Eye. The shank also follows the same grain pattern. Although the walls are quite thick and the shank is long, and the tobacco chamber is relatively small. In fact, I would compare the capacity of the tobacco chamber to that of a Dunhill Group 5-6. This is the kind of wood that you would not be able to burn out even if you tried hard!!

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Pipe Code:	PS038	Price:	CHF 320.00 Convert
Shape:	Dublin	Weight:	59g / 2-3/32 oz
Chamber ų: 21.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 45mm -- Wall Thickness: 12mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: If you like the classic Dublin shape and you stop for a second to examine this pipe, I'm confident that you will agree with me that it's quite an elegant and well-balanced shape. When you examine the pipe even more closely, you find out a few touches that have contributed immensely to the overall shape design. One of those features is the oval bowl shape; bowl diameter measures 41x47mm (1.6x1.9mm). You will also notice that the bowl is quite tall, and yet the correlation between the bowl height and the shank length is exceptionally evident; the bowl measures 56mm (2.2") in height, whereas the bowl is 61mm (2.4") in length. Posella added a thin black acrylic ring to the shank, followed by an elegant insert of boxwood. The shank, as you can see, is oval in shape, which goes so well with the idea of the oval bowl. All this is complemented with a well-made tapered mouthpiece. The grain is another important aspect of this pipe's appeal and beauty. The bowl demonstrates excellent Flame Grain all around, with some magnificent Bird's Eye on the bowl top. Another impressive fact is that the pipe is quite light in weight if you consider it's extra large pipe. I'm confident that this pipe will prove to be an excellent smoking instrument and a faithful companion through the years.

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Pipe Code:	PS039	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	"Globe"	Weight:	58g / 2-1/32 oz
Chamber ų: 21.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 37mm -- Wall Thickness: ->17mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: I know that technically a "Globe" can be easily and correctly defined as a "Freeform Apple", since it is, in a way. However, I prefer to use the unorthodox term "Globe" when the bowl is so round that it does appear more like a "globe" than an "apple". If you want a more objective and semi-scientific proof of this, here it is: The bowl diameter and the bowl height are equal, 48mm (1.89"). Could the bowl be more like a "globe"!!! The bowl walls are so thick, and the pipe has a lot of wood all over. The shank is rather short, but thanks to the saddle mouthpiece, the pipe feels so well-balanced to the eye and in the hand; I'm sure that it will also be a winner if you decide to clench on it. A little touch that I like so much is the little groove that Posella created around the bowl top to visually isolate the bowl "body" from the bowl "rim". As simple as it is, this little touches has added a lot to the overall shape appeal and uniqueness.

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Pipe Code:	PS040	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	FF Lovat	Weight:	61g / 2-5/32 oz
Chamber ų: 21.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 43mm -- Wall Thickness: 15mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: This pipe is so large in size that most classic pipe makers, especially British ones, would grade it as XXXL, or Magnum, or whatever. Luckily for you, we're talking about an Italian pipe here, and after all size is relative! The pipe has so much wood all over, and the tobacco chamber goes beyond a Dunhill Group 6. The bowl diameter is 46x51mm (1.8x2 inches, and yet the bowl is slightly oval), and the bowl height is 50mm (1.97"). The thick, long shank measures 17mm (0.67") in diameter and 61mm (2.4"). The overall length of the pipe is 147mm (5.8"). We have to agree that the Lovat has always been one of the most popular classic shapes, and I'm glad to report that more and more people discover through time and experience the great advantages of this shape. This pipe here will come as a very pleasant surprise to Lovat pipes, especially because the extra large size makes it a whole lot rarer and more unique. The grain is another appealing characteristic of the pipe, with some fabulous Bird's Eye on the bowl top and base.

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Pipe Code:	PS041	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	Freeform Dublin	Weight:	56g / 1-31/32 oz
Chamber ų: 22mm -- Chamber Depth: 45mm -- Wall Thickness: 13mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: There is so much I could say about this shape, but I'll do my best to be brief. Yes, the basic idea behind the bowl shape is that of the Dublin; however, the bowl is oval, with a diameter of 46x51mm (1.81x2.0"). The groove that runs around the rim of the bowl is quite a nice touch, and it has added tons to the overall appeal of the shape. The shank is quite a long one, and with the addition of a short, saddle mouthpiece, the pipe cannot be denied the pleasure of having something in common with the legendary Lovat. The shank, being long and thick, makes quite a long, gradual curve, resulting at the end in a 1/4 bent shank. Posella did an excellent job shaping the "neck" of the pipe, the part where the bowl and shank join; that part is both well-detailed and provide smooth transition between the two parts of the pipe. Apart from the Flame Grain that is evident both around the bowl and on the sides of the shank, Bird's Eye adds a unique touch of natural elegance to the bowl top and base.

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Pipe Code:	PS042	Price:	CHF 360.00 Convert
Shape:	Plateau Dublin	Weight:	61g / 2-5/32 oz
Chamber ų: 21.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 39mm -- Wall Thickness: 15mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes



COMMENT: A lot of people would not hesitate to refer to this shape as a Freehand. I, on the other hand, and as you may already well know, prefer to use common and well-established shape names whenever possible. The basic idea of the bowl shape is, in my opinion, undeniably that of the classic Dublin. If we want to be a little more fanciful, we could use the term "Bell", which is anyway a derivative of the classic Dublin. The great unique feature here is the plateau top, which has led to rather irregular edges around the bowl rim; this adds a whole lot more uniqueness to the shape in general (it's like natural actually made a contribution in the design and execution of the shape, which is great)! The short, oval shank is complemented with a ring of black acrylic and a rather long boxwood insert. The tapered mouthpiece appears to be quite comfortable to clench on, and it doesn't come with any inserts or ornaments (apart from the Posella logo, of course). What I really like about the grain is the fact it plays an important role in making the shape what it is. As a matter of fact, and by looking at the Flame Grain and how it follows through, you can almost envision the maker making the pipe sketch on the ebauchon with a sharpened pencil!

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