Smooth Rhodesian (Three Hearts) Tobacco Pipe

Very often when Paolo Becker serves up one of his rather speedy looking and elegantly shaped Rhodesians it's shaped with a sharp and distinctly pronounced heel that turns on a dime at the shank line. One can discern as much here, though it's very subtle in contrast to his norm. Which is fitting; this whole composition is quiet, which is particularly noteworthy for a Becker, a style of pipe that's ordinarily recognizable by it's flat planes and strong angles. But make no mistake, this Rhodesian is pure Paolo Becker what with its ever-so-slightly forward canted and proportionally full bowl, and gracefully thin, tapered shank. And for those of you like me who prefer rubber to plastic mouthpieces, Paolo Becker is one of the very few Italian pipe makers using vulcanite these days.

-- Ted Swearingen