Rodate Log

In 1995, Franco Rossi purchased the Il Ceppo pipe workshop from Giorgio Imperatori. He had previously collaborated with Bruto Sordini, the owner of the Don Carlos workshop, who in turn had worked with Giancarlo Guidi of the Ser Jacopo company, which had originally founded the Mastro de Paja workshop. Like most Italian pipe makers, Franco Rossi does not mark his pipes with his own name but rather with the inscription ‘Il Ceppo’, which refers to the origin of the briar pipes. Although his work bears a resemblance to the shapes of the aforementioned brands, Franco Rossi has developed a personalised style characterised by faceted bowls, a feature rarely found in Italian pipes. Franco Rossi and his sister produce 1,500 pipes a year, nearly half of which are exported to the United States, where the Il Ceppo brand is, quite rightly, highly renowned. All his products boast meticulous craftsmanship, excellent performance and a surprisingly affordable price.