ser jacopo per aspera ad astra - Pipe - Briar

Pipe data
Brand: Ser Jacopo
Stamping: PER ASPERA AD ASTRA – Ser Jacopo – HANDMADE
Length: 155 mm
Weight: 55 g
Mouthpiece: original with "J" in mother-of-pearl
Condition: 8.5/10
Catawiki valuation: €200–€250
Dating

The absence of further stampings (grade, shape or numbering) is unusual in more recent productions, but it is found on some specimens from the initial production and the early mature period of Ser Jacopo.

Moreover:

- the "J" logo on the mouthpiece is consistent with production after the abandonment of the coral dot;
- the style of the Ser Jacopo signature and the PER ASPERA AD ASTRA stamping are compatible with 1990s production;
- the rustic finish is typical of the period when Giancarlo Guidi consolidated the workshop’s style.

My estimate

I consider it likely that your pipe was made between 1995 and 2002, with higher probability for the 1996–2000 period.

I wouldn’t date it beyond 2005, because in later productions it is more common to find additional stampings (shape, grade, etc.).

Value

The attributed estimate of €200–€250 is consistent with the photographs and with the condition.

If I sold it at a specialized pipe-focused auction (for example with dealers or collectors in the field), it could reach €250–€300, especially if accompanied by a case or original documentation.

Conclusion

The dating I consider most plausible is:

1996–2000 (with a reasonable margin of ±2–3 years).

It is a Ser Jacopo from the early “mature” production, well preserved and representative of the classic style of the Pesaro workshop. It is not a rare series identifiable by a specific stamp, but remains a good artisanal piece with collectible value.