Smooth Pot (Royal Flush) (B) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

Founded in 1974, the Becker workshop is a family-owned operation in Italy currently manned by third-generation artisan Federico Becker. Having learned from his father and grandfather before him, Federico has cultivated a unique style marked by crisp shaping and rakish, angular silhouettes: qualities that are readily evident in this Pot. In this rendition, Federico takes the jutting heel often seen in Italian neoclassical Pots and refines it with crisp, precise lines that lend a sense of rigidity to the form. Besides the distinctive line work that frames the rim and heel, the bowl of this Pot retains the essence of the shape-chart standard, with stout walls and a broad chamber. Much like the bowl, the shank and stem are also informed by crisp lines, with both undergoing a steady, streamlined taper that keeps the visual weight on the bowl up front. The shank and stem also angle downward, working in tandem with the panels of the heel to achieve a subtle sense of curvature despite the crisp, straight lines that frame the form.

In addition to boasting nuanced, elegant shaping, this offering also boasts a wealth of stunning grain: dense straight grain encircles the walls of the bowl, and tight curlicues of birdseye swirl around the rim, heel, and length of the shank. These gorgeous grain patterns have earned Becker's highest grade, the Royal Flush, and they have been treated to a warm, smooth finish that's complemented by the stem's rich cumberland finish.