Becker: Smooth Pot (Four Hearts) Tobacco Pipe

Federico Becker is a third-generation pipe maker, his late father and grandfather beginning the Becker pipe-making workshop in the 1970s. The younger Becker has certainly come into his own in the carving world, assimilating their design styles with his own learned skills and raw talent. This smooth, Four-Hearts-grade Pot is a fine example of Federico's astuteness as an artisan with some consistent shaping elements seen, in addition to a few additional flourishes.

The bowl's heel displays the striking angularity frequently seen in Becker's work. Here, however, the lower flanks of the bowl show an uplifting wavy panel to form the pointed heel at the fore. In a departure, the carver has added a concave, beveled rim that, when viewed aerially is shaped diametrically, rather than from fore to aft. The waviness of said rim can be likened to that of the heel's panel, the curviness belying the spur up front and the firm taper of the shank and stem. This piece has been assigned the artisan's highest level of appreciation according to quality, finish, and shaping: Four Hearts. The smooth, virgin finish is unstained and is rare, in no small part because of the superlative briar necessary to achieve it and will darken with patina over time and with use. Plus, the natural polish allows the stunning, wispy and feathery strands of flame grain to be seen in all its glory about the bowl, while on the bottom of the pipe, unfettered and beautiful birdseye can be viewed. The demarcating ridgeline framing the heel makes for a fine demarcation. A superlative piece from Federico, well-deserving of the Four Hearts status.