Radice Rind Pure Billiard (2018) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Luigi Radice was born in 1939 and began his career working with briar in 1961, finding employment at the venerable Castello workshop. While working for the now legendary brand, Luigi met Giuseppe Ascorti, and the two left together in 1968 to found Caminetto, where he stayed for 12 years before departing to establish Radice in 1980. With help from his son, Gianluca, and his father, Paolo, Luigi began producing pipes in a striking neoclassical style which quickly amassed acclaim from enthusiasts of such stylized works. Luigi was later joined by his other son, Marzio, and the family-run workshop has since become known not just for their unique take on the neoclassical style of pipe making, but their singular accenting and finishing techniques. This Billiard features a very svelte stretch of shank and stem, which continuously taper toward the button from a wide transition, its openness giving the thumb ample room to rest. The bowl here is hearty and fairly tall, with a wide base and a low-set waistline that supports tall, cylindrical walls which provide the fingers an excellent surface to wrap around. The briar here is dressed in the craggy rustication of the Rind Pure series, its briar left unstained and ready to patinate, with the smooth rim lending the pipe some textural contrast.