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Rafael Martín Oltra was born in Valencia on May 9, 1960. His father, originally
a cabinetmaker, opened a tobacconist shop in the town of his birth, passing down
to Rafa all his passion and devotion for the tobacco world. As a result of his
father's influence, Rafa founded his own pipe-making workshop in the back room
of their tobacconist shop, which is currently operated by the third generation
of the Martín family.
Since the end of the 19th Century, the pipe-making industry, particularly
relating to briar pipes, has undergone constant evolution in terms of shapes,
finishing, brands and artisans.
The philosophy that inspires Martín Pipes is to offer exceptional pipes
providing long and pleasant smokes, thereby satisfying both the most discerning
smoker and the highly specialized collector.
Rafa Martín carefully selects the best briar from several Mediterranean regions,
paying special attention to the quality of raw materials . He is devoted to
producing freehand pipes, avoiding any traditional shapes that he reserves for
machine-made pipes.
The shapes emerge directly from the briar plateau, with skillful interpretation
of the grain pattern suggesting the final result. He never uses any kind of
filler, preferring to maintain the wood in its natural condition. The result
varies from spectacular straight grains to rusticates, culminating in totally
handmade pieces in natural finish without any kind of stain.
The care and dedication that Rafa invests in every phase of the pipe-making
process necessarily makes his annual production very limited.
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