Musico: Sandblasted Bent Billiard with Silver (Floodlight) Tobacco Pipe

Musicò 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. At just under five and a half inches long, this bent Billiard certainly fits that standard, and its shaping leaves nothing to be desired in its similarities to the timeless works of the Anglo-French marques of old. A tall bowl dominates the profile, almost stack-like in its dimensions, and the trim, tightly-knit shank takes on a sleek taper into the stem, whose smart curvature offers a comfortable smoking posture. The earthy sandblast dressing the stummel keeps the aesthetic stately and reveals some handsome grain, all while a generous accent of silver at the shank end provides rich contrast.

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.