‘Templar pipes by Pipa Croci’

    

Pipa Croci

I intended to post this weeks ago, while all the pipes were available for sale, but I forgot. Now, only two are still obtainable. What pipes? Pipa Croci’s line of nine in its Templar Collection.

Nine, inspired by the nine founders of the Order of Poor Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem—better known as the Knights Templar. From the publicity:

Pipa Croci pipes are created by Paolo & Gianni Croci from Mantova, Lombardia. The company was founded in 1983 and on each pipe you will find the nomenclature reads “dal 1983.” Each and every pipe is hand crafted from aged Italian Plateau Briar. This is a company that makes no two pipes alike and they truly create some masterpieces. In their own words: “The Pipa Croci is an artisan enterprise. The pipes which are born from our hands are all different from each other. This means that the owner of a Croci pipe possesses something totally unique.

Siro Taioli is sometimes mentioned as a pipemaker or, at least, a pipe designer. In fact, Taioli was the Spanish distributor of Pipa Croci pipes made by Paolo & Gianni Croci, Mantova in Italy. And so, he has private label pipes stamped with his name. His probably most spectacular project was a line of nine pipes dedicated to Hughes de Payens, Geoffroi de Saint-Omer, Andre de Monbard, Gondemare, Geoffroi Bisol, Godefroy, Roral, Payen de Montdesir and Archambaud de Saint-Agnan—the founders of the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem or, simply, Templar Knights.

Pipa Croci

The Templar pipes rest in a precious wooden casket clad with velvet. At the shank’s end is a ring of silver or gold on which the cross of the Templar Knights is mounted in red gold. To every pipe, there is a certificate.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the medieval Knights Templar have anything to do with Freemasonry. That’s a “weird pseudo-history.” This edition of The Magpie Mason is more like an Honorable Mention. Nice looking pipes though.

Did the warrior-monks take tobacco? I have no idea, but latakia, one of my favorites, originates from an area where the Templars waged some of their warfare. After a long day of slaying the infidels, I imagine a pipeful could be rather soothing.

I don’t spend that kind of money ($329) on briars, and these are so decorative in their wooden display boxes that I wonder if their owners will smoke them or preserve them pristine as collectible pieces. But I leave that to you. Click here to see the set and maybe purchase the two remaining pipes.

Click here for more on Pipa Croci.