Becker: Smooth Dublin (Royal Flush) Tobacco Pipe

Carrying on three generations of pipe making, Becker pipes are currently crafted by Federico Becker, who continues the legacy set by his father and grandfather during the 1970s. Unique in their shaping, Becker pipes forego the Italian neoclassical school's more sizable proportions in favor of pipes with leaner dispositions and sleek line work, characteristics which are handsomely illustrated in this Dublin rendition. The composition here exudes dynamism, featuring a lively, forward-canted bowl posed at the fore formed by smooth walls flaring from the firm, jutting heel toward the softly undulating rim, the latter of which adds a playful touch to the overall figure. A slender shank reaches far out back from a wide transition and joins to a gradually tapering stem of swirling cumberland, the pair creating a lithe profile and further guiding the eye toward the fore of the composition. Additionally, the shank-and-stem help keep the pipe trim and lightweight, the arrangement allowing for a comfortable clench. Contrasting the stem's dark, rich palette, the stummel wears a light, smooth finish that highlights stunning flame grain across the bowl's surface, earning this piece Becker's highest grade: Royal Flush.