Musico: Smooth Bent Dublin (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. This bent Dublin maintains a much more stylized look, with a robust bowl flaring out of a bulbous heel, the walls reaching just a bit over the transition and keeping this pipe squat. The transition is wide and gives way to a lifting, diamond-shaped shank that's quite thick as it leads into a sleek taper through the demurely curved stem. Dressing this piece is a warm, vibrant stain that reveals a wealth of handsome grain throughout the stummel, its broad rim peppered by swirling birdseye.