Musico: Sandblasted Bent Billiard with Silver (Floodlight Special) 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. The bowl stands on a rounded heel and boasts a low-set waist and subtly curved, tapering walls, and it's paired to a trim, tightly-knit shank out back via a wide transition. The shank and stem form a continuous taper to the button, the stem's smartly curved black vulcanite meeting the shank at a trim band of silver that marks the junction. An earthy sandblast dresses the stummel and keeps the aesthetic stately while revealing handsome grain.

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.