Radice: Rind Apple with Faux Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Plump and pert as an Apple should be, this piece from Radice is a striking take on the classic shape, its wide transition giving way to a sleekly tapering shank. The shank here is especially noteworthy being carved in one of Radice's most recognizable, iconic patterns: a faux bamboo that replicates three of the dense grass' flared nodes here. The result is a pipe that's full with organic charm and draws the eye back a bit from the bowl's impressive stature. The shank is capped with a short, tapering stem of black acrylic which is possessed of an extremely bare curve, one that retains a straight pipe's smoking posture. Up front, the bowl stands atop a rounded heel, growing tapering walls that cant forward and arc toward a flat, smooth rim, matching the smooth finish of the shank while contrasting the rugged rustication of the lower bowl.

Luigi Radice was born in 1939 and began his career working with briar in 1961, finding employment at the venerable Castello workshop. While working for the now legendary brand, Luigi met Giuseppe Ascorti, and the two left together in 1968 to found Caminetto, where he stayed for 12 years, before departing to establish Radice in 1980. With help from his son, Gianluca, and his father, Paolo, Luigi began producing pipes in a striking neoclassical style which quickly amassed acclaim from enthusiasts of such stylized works. Luigi was later joined by his other son, Marzio, and the family-run workshop has since become known not just for their unique take on the neoclassical style of pipe making, but their singular accenting and finishing techniques.