Showing posts with label Al Pascia pipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Al Pascia pipes. Show all posts

Thursday, October 31, 2024

‘Happy Garibaldi anniversary’

    

Just in time for Garibaldi Lodge’s 160th anniversary year, a pipe maker, that I unhappily cannot identify, seems to have produced a briar bearing the handsome likeness of Giuseppe Garibaldi. This photo shows a page in the October issue of Arbiter magazine. It is being circulated on social media by Al PasciĆ  to promote its Ovalina shape, two of which are seen resting on the page. Maybe this Garibaldi briar is made by that venerable pipe-maker
, but I cannot find any info on the web about it.

Anyway, the actual anniversary of the lodge’s constitution passed on June 11, but the brethren will meet tomorrow night at eight o’clock in the Corinthian Room for its regular communication. (It’s impossible to choose a favorite lodge in the Tenth Manhattan District, but I’m drawn to Garibaldi because of the French Rite EA° it famously confers, in Italian, to the delight of hundreds of visiting Masons.)

Magpie file photo
From the 150th anniversary.

Garibaldi 542 was the first lodge under the Grand Lodge of New York to work in the Italian language. There was confusion in the Craft at the beginning, as the lodge was trilingual—Italian, French, and English—so that the DDGM had to direct the Worshipful Master to keep the lodge’s proceedings in Italian, per the Dispensation granted by Grand Lodge.

The lodge’s namesake, of course, is the Italian freedom-fighter and Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Italy. Did you know Giuseppe Garibaldi resided in Staten Island for a time? Read more about Garibaldi 542’s history here.

Happy anniversary!
     

Saturday, September 3, 2022

‘Fraternitas’

    
BROTHERS IN ARMS—Italian pipemaking houses Luigi Viprati and Ser Jacopo are united in a new venture: Fraternitas. Okay, and handcuffs too. Fraternitas pairs one pipe from each maker in limited edition sets. So far, they seem to be available from Al Pascia only.

Just announced several hours ago by Al Pascia in Milan, and already selling fast, are the wares crafted jointly by both Ser Jacopo and Viprati, two of Italy’s best skilled makers of briar pipes. Their limited edition Fraternitas sets are comprised of one pipe from each.

Al Pascia

I can’t find any background information yet, except that smooth and sandblasted finishes are available. Each set sells for about $625 without the VAT. (I’m assuming the sandblasted costs a little less.) Al Pascia even giftwraps. That’s a great price for two pipes from those outfits.