Radice: Silk Cut Billiard with Silver (G) Tobacco Pipe

An impressive straight Billiard from Radice, this member of their "G" line is actually quite classically-inclined compared to many other iterations of the shape from the Italian workshop. The bowl here is Stack-like in height, with plenty of chamber within its thick walls, and is paired to a proportionally pleasing shank and stem combination tapering away out back. There's nearly a fifth of a pound of briar here, providing a commanding in-hand presence and making for a truly impressive desk pipe. The expanse of briar is an excellent canvas on which to display rippling growth rings, and a stimulating sandblast and ruby stain bring them to life beautifully, the natural patterns cascading down the bowl, as if the briar were held beneath a waterfall. Some lovely contrast is offered by a trim band of silver at the junction, and the composition's marriage to a sleek black stem keeps things looking elegant and traditional.