ANTONIO GESUALDI NUOVA CON CERTIFICATO - Pipe - Briar

ANTONIO GESUALDI
HANDMADE PIPE – ITALY
Grande pipa artigianale in radica del Cilento – nuova, numerata e certificata

Splendid and important pipe crafted by master Antonio Gesualdi, expression of a contemporary high-level artisanal production, where the Italian pipe tradition meets a sensitivity shaped by the culture and Japanese woodworking techniques.

Antonio Gesualdi is an Italian artist and craftsman whose training is deeply linked to the bonsai world, a discipline in which he has developed over the years a particular attention to balance, proportions, natural material, and the precision of the gesture.

THE JAPANESE PATHWAY AND THE ART OF WOOD

A particularly significant element of Gesualdi’s path is his several-year stay in Japan, where he deepened traditional Japanese woodworking techniques.

This experience helped develop a conception of woodworking based on precision, absolute attention to detail, essential lines, and harmony of forms.

It is this approach, together with his long bonsai experience, that makes his constructive philosophy particularly recognizable: the material is not simply shaped, but studied and respected, seeking a natural balance between form, proportion, and functionality.

In making his pipes Gesualdi uses a rigorously artisanal methodology, with a particular influence of techniques and tools from the Japanese tradition. The result is a pipe in which order, clean lines, constructive accuracy, and great attention to finish can be perceived.

RADICA DEL CILENTO

For this piece, selected Cilento briar was used, personally harvested by the master.

The selection and preparation of the raw material represent another important aspect of Gesualdi’s production. The briar is carefully selected and subjected to a long process of preparation and aging before being transformed into a pipe.

This direct relationship with the raw material gives the production a strongly personal and artisanal character.

The smooth surface highlights the warm, amber honey-toned briar, with an accurate polish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood.

PIPE CHARACTERISTICS

The pipe features substantial dimensions and a particularly elegant presence:

Length: about 155 mm
Weight: 76 g
Briar: Cilento, personally selected by the master
Finish: smooth, hand-polished
Bowl: black ebony/vulcanite
Production: Handmade
Pipe: new, never smoked
Numbered: yes
Accessories: original Gesualdi pouch
Documentation: certificate of authenticity and warranty

The generous proportion and extremely precise workmanship give the pipe a strong character, while maintaining an elegant and harmonious stance.

A CONTEMPORARY COLLECTOR’S PIECE

This pipe embodies Antonio Gesualdi’s philosophy particularly well: Italian briar, fully artisanal craftsmanship, pursuit of construction perfection, and influence of Japanese wood culture.

That the piece is new, numbered, accompanied by the pouch and by the certificate of authenticity and warranty further increases its appeal to collectors.

It is also a deliberately limited and artisanal production: Gesualdi makes a modest number of pipes each year, registers his pieces, and accompanies them with authenticity documentation.

VALUATION

Considering the master’s current production, the size of the piece, Cilento briar, artisanal craftsmanship, the new and never smoked condition, and the presence of numbering, pouch, and certification, I deem a fair valuation to be:

€ 200 – 220