Radice: Rind Poker Tobacco Pipe

A rather minimalist take on the Poker shape, yet still quite "Radice" in its execution and overall proportions, this Silk Cut piece from Gigi and sons features a stout, cylindrical bowl with both a capacious chamber and thick insulating walls, paired with a wide, well-defined transition and an arrow-straight shank/stem configuration. The result is a sturdy, sure-sitting pipe that's charmingly muscular and cants forward with an easy dynamism, the tapering shank and stem placing much of the visual weight on the bowl. The stummel showcases the Rind rustication's craggy texture and dark stain, and it's contrasted nicely by the light tones of the smooth rim.

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.