Sesa

Sesa is the pipe brand carrying the name of Branko Sesa (b. 1962), who works in Turin. Born in Croatia, Sesa settled in Turin in 1994 and began making pipes in 2000. His workshop remains one-man to this day: both new pipes and repair work come from the same hand. This dual mode of working is the main factor that defines the brand's identity.

An Apprenticeship in Turin

Before taking up the bench, his profession was teaching philosophy; woodworking was a leisure pursuit. He learned the finer points of the craft, shortly after starting with pipes, from Italian maker Mauro Gilli. His time with Gilli built his technical foundation; aesthetic decisions, by contrast, were left to Sesa himself. Although he holds both Croatian and Italian citizenship, he considers himself an Italian pipe maker, on the grounds that he learned the craft in that country. To understand the brand's place, see the entry on the short history of the Italian handmade pipe.