Radice: Clear 'Gold' Dublin (E) Tobacco Pipe

Straight Dublin renditions are quite rare to see from the Radices, making this pipe a special one, though not solely for its comparatively uncommon shape. In addition, this pipe has been rendered in Nosewarmer dimensions, coming in at just a touch over four and a half inches long, with a bit of that added length thanks to the bowl's subtle forward cant. Said bowl stands on a firm heel whose angular outline informs the angle of the shank's taper and acts as the center of the visual weight, lending this pipe an aerodynamic look and an eye-catching presence while remaining impressively compact. The transition is wide, and the shank ebbs out of it to meet a similarly tapering stem of cumberland, another seldom-seen feature from Radice and one which suits this pipe excellently. The walls of the bowl are rather thick, and they assume a measured flare from the heel to a flat rim, surrounding a capacious chamber primed to offer leisurely smoking sessions. Dressed in Radice's vaunted Clear finish, the grain this pipe reveals is so good that it's also earned the brand's superlative "Gold" stamping, with dense streaks of flame surrounding the bowl's walls.

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.