82. A Tour of the Gavirate Pipe Museum
Happy International Pipe Smoker’s Day! I received an unusual Peterson not long ago from northern Italy. I’ll tell you the pipe’s story next time, but today, being IPSD, I thought I’d share the pipe’s back-story by taking everyone on a field trip to the Gavirate Pipe Museum, one of the most amazing museums I’ve ever visited, in the lovely, quiet little town of the same name in northern Italy. I’ve long wanted to visit Italy, and when I do, this is one stop I’ll be making. Gavirate (pop. 9400) is near Varese, and about 50 km. from Milan, nestled in the great of one of the world’s great pipe-making communities. It’s not far from the old Rossi pipe-making factory, which you should by all means read about over at Pipedia. I dislike people who talk in a museum, and usually find myself taking hours longer than anyone else (I routinely park myself in front of something that fascinates me and just sit for half an hour or so). So apart from indicating the room or its contents, I won’t offer any commentary. Oh, but before we go in, you should know that what you’re looking in some respects is the lifetime’s work of one of the most versatile and amazing artists (who worked in other media besides pipes, as you will see) in the world, Jean Marie Alberto Paronelli (1914 – 2004). Most of the artwork you'll see and many of the pipes are his creations. He collected almost all the artifacts you see in the museum over the course of his life. Each photo is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff, so if you've got a large format monitor, by all means click on the images and take a peek. J. M. Alberto Paronelli's work has been continued by his nephew Antonio Paolo Paronelli and his grandsons, artisan pipe-makers in their right, Ariberto Paronelli (Paronelli Pipes) and Alberto Paronelli (Volkan Pipes). More about all the Paronellis and the Peterson pipe Ariberto sent me that started all this next time. For now, let’s go in! Museum of the Pipe, Gavirate Entrance Hall Hand-painted gourd chandelier (hanging in the Entrance Hall--see above) Original meeting room of the International Pipe Academy The Champion Room: the world's foremost collection of F. Rossi pipes Caricature pipe of F. Illi Rossi, in the Champion Room Despite the book on the case, Ariberto labeled this photo from the Champion Room "French pipes." Detail of F. Rossi pipe cabinets in the Champion Room Savoia Cavalry pipe, by F. Illi Rossi Display of Cuttys, labeled "Ultralight and Monoblock pipes" Old English clays The European Pipe Hall Machinery and Tools Room -- antiques rescued from the old Rossi factory Antique wooden French lathe 900 pipe-making tools! Exotic Pipe Room Cobra Pipe, covered in python skin Alaskan Eskimo pipe Chinese rooster-claw pipe Pipe of the Shah of…