Musico: Smooth Bent Pot (Set Special) Tobacco Pipe

In 1990, two notable sons of the pipe world joined together and opened up a shop together. Those two were Pablo Becker and Massimo Musicò, the sons of Fritz Becker and Giorgio Musicò, respectively, and two highly respected individuals within Italy's pipe sphere. Starting in 1995, the pair began making pipes together, with Pablo turning the stummels and Massimo crafting silver spigots and bands to pair with the pipes. The duo enjoyed great success during their partnership, but in 2002, Pablo decided to go back to making artisan pipes full-time under the Becker name. Massimo Continued making Musicò pipes, however, and added the Foundation name to subsequent releases, additionally including the rest of his family in the production of the pipes. Musico is something of an outlier in the realm of Italian pipe making, as, rather than fashion large, boldly neoclassical pieces with a flair for the dramatic, the workshop is instead known for classic shapes in more reserved dimensions. That is certainly the case with regard to this bent Pot, boasting an under five and a half inch footprint and taking on a weight that's comfortable in both the hand and the jaw. The bowl here is squat and plump and boasts plenty of thickness about its walls, the wealth of visual weight it offers balanced by the wide transition and lengthy stretch of round shank which ebbs out of it. Paired to this shank is a trim, demurely curved stem of jet-black vulcanite, lending the composition a Lovat-like appeal and an elegant silhouette. Dressed in a vibrant auburn stain and showcasing some handsome grain throughout its stummel, this piece should appeal to enthusiasts of Italian pipes that enjoy timeless takes on classic profiles.