Claudio Cavicchi
- bikedoctor
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Claudio Cavicchi
So I've really been working on learning pipe shapes and in my "studies" Ive come across Claudio's work. Anyone met the guy or have any first hand stories or impressions about the man and his work?
Kevin
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Kevin,
You should find the following link interesting.
http://www.theitalianpipe.com/make/cv/cvlab.htm
You should find the following link interesting.
http://www.theitalianpipe.com/make/cv/cvlab.htm
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Here's a bit of info: http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Cavicchi
Regards,
Frank.
------------------
Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett
Frank.
------------------
Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Until a few years ago our store was the only source for his pipes in North America. We have sold them in crazy volume for more than 20 years. I feel as though I can comment.
If you buy a full bent pipe you can assume that a pipe cleaner will slide all the way through the stem in to the bowl. The shape of his air hole, on the full bent, will be a oval but not overly so when it enters the bowl. His shapes are spot on. The quality of his briar is second to none. Look at any smooth pipe and you will see. The fit and finnish will not have any problems.
He makes a lot of pipes and has never sent us a single one where I could find a problem.
He keeps up the quality controll but is very fast.
We get about 50 pipes at a time. He has never even made a mistake on a invoice and the pipes are packed in order as on the invoice.
He may not be the most artistic or creative pipe maker but I have never seen any one that can match his consistency over the long run.
Skip
If you buy a full bent pipe you can assume that a pipe cleaner will slide all the way through the stem in to the bowl. The shape of his air hole, on the full bent, will be a oval but not overly so when it enters the bowl. His shapes are spot on. The quality of his briar is second to none. Look at any smooth pipe and you will see. The fit and finnish will not have any problems.
He makes a lot of pipes and has never sent us a single one where I could find a problem.
He keeps up the quality controll but is very fast.
We get about 50 pipes at a time. He has never even made a mistake on a invoice and the pipes are packed in order as on the invoice.
He may not be the most artistic or creative pipe maker but I have never seen any one that can match his consistency over the long run.
Skip
- ToddJohnson
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
As someone who's early work was inspired by many of these same Cavicchis, I will just echo what Skip said. The work is exceptional, precise, and beautiful. I spent many an afternoon examining his pipes by the dozen when I lived in Alabamastan. I would intend to go visit Skip for an hour or so, and wouldn't make it back into the workshop until early evening!Skip wrote:Until a few years ago our store was the only source for his pipes in North America. We have sold them in crazy volume for more than 20 years. I feel as though I can comment.
If you buy a full bent pipe you can assume that a pipe cleaner will slide all the way through the stem in to the bowl. The shape of his air hole, on the full bent, will be a oval but not overly so when it enters the bowl. His shapes are spot on. The quality of his briar is second to none. Look at any smooth pipe and you will see. The fit and finnish will not have any problems.
He makes a lot of pipes and has never sent us a single one where I could find a problem.
He keeps up the quality controll but is very fast.
We get about 50 pipes at a time. He has never even made a mistake on a invoice and the pipes are packed in order as on the invoice.
He may not be the most artistic or creative pipe maker but I have never seen any one that can match his consistency over the long run.
Skip
TJ
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
I was surprised how I kept going back to look at his pipes. They certainly are not flamboyant and ground breaking but everything was so pleasing to the eye. Has Claudio ever made it to one of the US pipe shows?
Skip, forgive my ignorance but what is your shop?
Skip, forgive my ignorance but what is your shop?
Kevin
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
As a newbie pipemaker, Cavicchi is one of my greatest influences. Most of his stuff is farily "traditional" (except his sea slugs!) which forces concentration on the process of making a well engineered & shapped pipe and not on the process of designing wild freehand creations.
"Cut your own wood and you warm yourself twice." - Henry Ford
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
ALL YOUR PIPE ARE BELONG TO US!
- bikedoctor
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Todd,
Thanks. That would explain why Skip knows so much about Claudio. I just noticed all the stems are lucite. I wish he made a few in ebonite ... still I am really captivated by the pipes.
Thanks for the info guys. I think its time to make the Christmas list now. I just don't know what shape to order. This is going to be tough.
Thanks. That would explain why Skip knows so much about Claudio. I just noticed all the stems are lucite. I wish he made a few in ebonite ... still I am really captivated by the pipes.
Thanks for the info guys. I think its time to make the Christmas list now. I just don't know what shape to order. This is going to be tough.
Kevin
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Yeah those Italians are all crazy for acrylic stems... I can't figure it. I've done a couple and I hate that crap. AND it's hard as hell on the teeth. BUT..... damn some of those guys make nice pipes. Wow.
I'm just trying to remember if some of Claudio's "low grade" (haha), rusticated pipes have a vulcanite stem... I just can't remember. But they look like very good value at just over a hundred bucks.
I'm just trying to remember if some of Claudio's "low grade" (haha), rusticated pipes have a vulcanite stem... I just can't remember. But they look like very good value at just over a hundred bucks.
ALL YOUR PIPE ARE BELONG TO US!
- ToddJohnson
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
No, even the black rusticated 1C's are lucite. They're the most comfortable lucite bits I've ever had between my teeth though. Granted, that's not saying much--I share your thoughts about acrylic--but it's somethin'.Sasquatch wrote:Yeah those Italians are all crazy for acrylic stems... I can't figure it. I've done a couple and I hate that crap. AND it's hard as hell on the teeth. BUT..... damn some of those guys make nice pipes. Wow.
I'm just trying to remember if some of Claudio's "low grade" (haha), rusticated pipes have a vulcanite stem... I just can't remember. But they look like very good value at just over a hundred bucks.
TJ
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
TJ,
I'd love to see the Cavicchi pipes you smoke. You mind posting pictures?
I'd love to see the Cavicchi pipes you smoke. You mind posting pictures?
Kevin
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
I've sold a number of them because my tastes have changed a great deal over the years. I now smoke mostly Dunhill Group 1's, but here's one I've held on to. My wife bought this for me on my 23rd birthday.bikedoctor wrote:TJ,
I'd love to see the Cavicchi pipes you smoke. You mind posting pictures?
TJ
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Re: Claudio Cavicchi
You're over 23 ??? I'm kidding. Old man. What are you 33?ToddJohnson wrote:I've sold a number of them because my tastes have changed a great deal over the years. I now smoke mostly Dunhill Group 1's, but here's one I've held on to. My wife bought this for me on my 23rd birthday.bikedoctor wrote:TJ,
I'd love to see the Cavicchi pipes you smoke. You mind posting pictures?
When you say your "tastes" do you mean the asthetics that draw you to a pipe?
I've read that Claudio tends to make larger style pipes and although I don't speak Dunhill I believe group 1 is a smaller pipe.
Kevin
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
Group 1 are indeed itty bitty little things. I've never really understood the exact "group" numbers (with ODA and all the other weird classifications). My smallest pipe is a Peterson 303 and I think that's bigger than a 1, but I'm not sure.
In my experience, Italians make pipes that range from "capacious" to "monstrous". All my Italian pipes have relatively large bowls, with the exception of a Mario Grandi volcano sorta thing.
In my experience, Italians make pipes that range from "capacious" to "monstrous". All my Italian pipes have relatively large bowls, with the exception of a Mario Grandi volcano sorta thing.
ALL YOUR PIPE ARE BELONG TO US!
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
I'm going to buy a cavicchi. They look really nice and well made. Like you I keep going back to them. I'd probably buy over a Savinelli and Dunhill for that matter.
Re: Claudio Cavicchi
...not to mention his rustication technique (or better said, her)!
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