Castello Collection Fiammata with strange marking

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malsped

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Can anyone please explain the meaning of a tiny, circular stamp in the shank briar of a Castello Collection Fiammata. I can find no reference to such a mark anywhere online or in pipe discussion forums. It's neither the usual castle or a k or g stamp - in fact the pipe has none of those at all. The mark appears just above and to the left of the C in the name, CASTELLO, and is just slightly bigger than the letter. It is perfectly round with four short etched lines radiating out of the bottom. At first glance it looks like a spider with four short legs peeping out of its side. Even viewing it through a magnifying glass is insufficient to clarify the wedge-shaped marking inside the circle - perhaps best described as that of a tiny hot-air balloon. Aside from this mark, there are the three words identifying make and model (CASTELLO COLLECTION and above those, FIAMMATA). Beneath these is a punched signature of Carlo Scotti. Elsewhere on the shank are the usual oval-circled "Carlo Scotti" and "Made in Cantu Italy" markings. As indicated by the make and model, it is a beautifully-crafted straight-grain smooth briar pipe of unusual design - almost a freehand, with plateau rim - with a flat bottom allowing it to stand and bent, lucite stem, with the trademark white bar facing up.
 
Fascinating ... the circle you show is the same size as mine, but doesn't have the inner detail. And you're right - no "legs". The legs and detail are much more distinct on my pipe, possibly because mine's mark was tapped in more forcefully. But the legs are so distinct that the two marks are definitely different I can't make out the wedge you see in yours - can only see the circle and some wood grain running through it. Could these marks be individual "signatures" of the pipe makers, I wonder? I shall try to get a camera with macro facility to show the mark I am talking about on my pipe. But thanks for responding so swiftly.
 
I wish it were my pipe! That's just the sample photo of Fiamatta markings from the Pipehill logos site, so I have no other angles nor images of it.
 
Am working on it. Have got a photo now, but can't work out how to upload it onto the site. Maybe the file is too large. But I shall prevail - Tahdah!
 
Use an external, free site like Flickr to post the image, then copy the BBCode link for it (usually under something like "Share this Pic".)
 
Don't know what it means, but I'll certainly look out for it on other examples. I've yet to score a Castello, but I hope to soon.
 
Okay, for the record, the origin of the strange mark has been revealed - by Marco Parascenzo of Castello HQ in Rome, no less.
He tells me that the pipe was purchased by a shop in Milan, Lorenzi, on the Via Dante, that specialised in luxury goods. Lorenzi stamped the tiny mark on all of its pipes. No date of the purchase was supplied, but it seems the shop has since closed. However, the famed mother store, G. Lorenzi, that has plied trade on the Via Montenapoleone since 1929 is apparently still in business.
So, to celebrate the resolution of the mystery, I hereby post another photo link showing (nearly) the whole pipe in question:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32921976@N05/5491956350/in/photostream/

As Marco concluded in his email to me: "Enjoy that beauty". And I shall.
 
Marco is the proprietor of the superb Novelli Pipe and Pen shop in Rome. They also have an excellent website.
 
Many thanks for the heads-up, Nero. I shall check out the site with interest and appreciation.
Yours faithfully,
Archie Goodwin
 
malsped:

Archie...Cannot find Fritz; need beer! And Inspector Cremer wants to know where you and Lily Rowan were last night!

Best regards from your demanding and highly intelligent (genius, actually!) boss, Nero Wolfe
 
Sorry, must demur about Lily, Nero. You'll have to ask her yourself; a gentleman never tells.
As for Fritz, a saw him lying passed out in the kitchen beside a crate of Remmers and a spilled bag of lima beans.
Tout-toot,
Arch
 
malsped:

Archie….Your insubordination is insufferable! You are demoted for a month to work in the plant rooms re-potting orchids! In addition, call Saul Panzer and tell him to come here immediately; I need to begin investigating the mystery of Fritz and the tainted lima beans……Mr. Wolfe (to you!)
 
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