Radice

We go where the pipes are. Our special relationships with pipe makers and manufacturers are predicated on being responsible, supportive stewards for their pipes and their efforts, and a near limitless willingness to just show up. Travel is a big part of what makes Smokingpipes what it is. ... Read More

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find eight unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution formats. ... Read More

It's never my intention to insult someone's intelligence (but sometimes I do). It's also never my intention to mispronounce someone's name (but sometimes I do). Mispronunciation is a particular potential if a person's name follows the phonetic standards of a language other than my native English — ... Read More

In his latest episode of Around The Burl, Shane recounts his latest trip to the Radice workshop, including a look at the newer faux-bamboo Rind Pures, and two very special gourd and briar Calabashes.

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In this episode of All Pipes Considered, Shane and Sykes sit down to talk about two very special Radice pipes, plus the oak presentation boxes they come in (sourced from actual Venetian pilings).

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On Saturday, March 5th, Luigi Radice celebrated his 77th birthday. I got there late — almost noon — thanks to a localized snowstorm in Varese, where I'd started that morning. Luca Di Piazza, Luigi, and his sons and fellow Radice pipe makers Marzio and Giancluca were all there. ... Read More

Pipe making has become a universal art. From Greece to Brazil, from California to Japan, makers and artisans dedicated to this most unique of crafts are scattered across the globe. Sure, many of these share similar styles and influences, but geographically, they're very much spread out — save but a handful. ... Read More

When Sykes visited the Radices with Luca di Piazza in 2010, the first things Luigi personally showed off to them (after finishing the work he was in the middle of when they arrived) were not the highest-graded pipes at hand, but those Gigi happened to find the most interesting results of his tinkering ... Read More

A few years ago, I received my very first Christmas pipe. Was it an expensive or artisan-grade briar? Well, no, but it was a gift from a friend, and it was given from the heart. You see, very few people outside of the pipe smoking community really understand our hobby, what drives us to keep picking up our briars and adding new ones to our collection, especially around the holiday season. ... Read More

I landed at Milan-Malpensa airport at 8:30am, Sunday morning. Yes, I was tired, but I was also far too excited about the next few days to let something like a little sleep deprivation bother me. My first appointment would be that very afternoon at Radice ... Read More