Radice: Rind Bent Billiard Tobacco Pipe

After a long stint working at Castello for Carlo Scotti, Luigi Radice left and formed the Caminetto brand with Guiseppe Ascorti, who he worked with at Castello. In 1980, Luigi went on to found his own brand, Radice, which has become well-renowned in Italy for its high quality pipes. Though the Italian marque is typically known for its neoclassical renditions, this bent Billiard from Radice is rather reserved in shaping. Lifting up from a tight transition, the shank terminates at a height that brings it almost level with the upright bowl's rim. A sinuous curve underscores the totality of the pipe's shape, winding from the fore of the bowl, across the shank, and through a gently tapered, chastely bent stem. In typical Italian style, the heel is pronounced, with a rotundity that fits comfortably in the palm. From here, the walls form a shallow taper into the rim. A dark, red- and black-contrasted stain dresses the rusticated stummel, providing a shadowy contrast to the smooth rim's lighter brown.