DESCRIPTION
"Morta Wood" is generic term used to describe a semi-foxilized Oak wood which is has between 3000 and 6000 years. It is created when large trees are overturned by geological activity and buried in peat or clay in a oxygen-limited situation. Only in this way the wood is not able to rot normally and the very slow fossilizing petrification starts.
Till today many pipesmakers used "Morta" pipes to realize pipes: one above all is Trever Talbert from France.
It's very difficult to tell the exact age of this wood. I discussed this with Paolo and I can say that the wood is at least 3000 years old (but maybe it is 4500?). Something that Paolo was able to assure me is that these pieces of wood has been safely stocked and seasoned, after cutting, for almost 30 years!!
The experience and feel with a Morta wood pipe is basically different from briar: Morta pipes are extremely light in weight and the feel of the sandblasting is very peculiar, it is sharp and defined. The pipe seems to get hotter during smoking: don't worry, this is something normal with Morta pipes. The truth is that the pipe radiates heat through the grain. It become cool very quickly. I have to say that Morta pipes are probably more difficult to burn out than briar: it is still wood and if the heat goes up it could burn out, but it is very difficult.

Paolo Becker has recently started using Moorland Fossil Oak Wood and he will only make Morta pipes in black sandblasted and in a very limited number. Design of Morta pipes will absolutely follow classic Becker style, avoiding very thin shanks like his famous "Spaghetto" shank.
I am very happy to be able to get six to introduce them to you, through my website.

The pipe in this page is in the Maya shape which is a beautiful and perfectly balanced squat tomatoe with a quarter bent round shank. The grain of the sandblasted wood is outstanding and it creats a perfect pattern all around the bowl and shank (you can even count the rings!!!). Chamber could be compared to a Dunhill group 3/4, walls are thick. The lucite mouthpiece has a nice round saddle and it ends opening to the end.