Radice: 40th Anniversary Clear Billiard with Silver (04) Tobacco Pipe

The bold, muscular aesthetic so recognizable in Italian pipe making is evident here, as it should be, because Luigi Radice in large part helped to define the robust style that has become so admired throughout the world. Luigi began his carving career at Castello 60 years ago, and for the last 40 years has been making pipes under his own Radice brand. This Billiard celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Radice pipes and includes a scroll announcing that anniversary, signed by Luigi and his sons, Gianluca and Marzio, and is protected in a special red leather travel case.

The bowl is upright and nearly cylindrical, with a forward heel that is pronounced, while the shank is likewise presented in sturdy dimensions. The stem is tapered and relatively short, permitting the stummel to maintain visual precedence. A sterling silver band engraved with the workshop's two-pipe logo appropriately circles the end of the shank in elegant contrast.

Presented here in the Radice workshop's Clear finish, the natural beauty of the grain is highlighted in a honey-blonde, contrast stain. The vertical flame grain circles the bowl and rises up the flanks, angling somewhat at the shank, and revealing tight birdseye at the rim, heel, and shank to provide plenty of visual stimulation.