Rook Bent Billiard (2026) Tobacco Pipe

Tonino Jacono entered the pipe business in 1981, finishing and selling pipes that were shaped by his brother-in-law from briar acquired and drilled by his father-in-law. After two years, Jacono left Calabria — the region comprising the Italian peninsula's southwestern "toe" — and moved north to Jesi, a municipality near Italy's Adriatic coast. Jacono began making pipes under his own name in Jesi, and still does today, with a philosophy of making high-quality pipes at a fair price point.

Jacono uses a grading system that follows the value of chess pieces: in ascending order, it goes Pawn (sandblasted), Knight (rusticated), Bishop, Rook, Queen, and King. Jacono graded this bent Billiard a Rook and coaxed some great flame grain out of the briar to give the bowl a lovely appearance complemented by the dark walnut hue of the stain. The bowl is straight-walled even for a Billiard, and backed by a high-kicking shank that holds a lengthy, bent saddle stem of black acrylic with brief shoulders.