Becker (Federico) Sandblasted Dublin (Four Clubs) (Estate)

For many artisans, pipe making is a family affair; Denmark is, of course, most famous for its pipe making dynasties, though such can be found elsewhere, from England, to France, to Canada and, in the case of this pipe, to Italy. The Becker family is perhaps the most famous artisan lineage in pipe history, one whose fame has been rightly earned over the last 5 decades.

It all began with Fritz Becker, an Austrian who fled his native land during the rise of the Third Reich, joined the Allies in their fight to retake Europe, and finally settled in Rome, Italy. Fritz was a pipe smoker, but a very particular one, and would often find himself modifying the pipes he’d bought so that they performed as well as he thought they should do. Around 1970, and after growing tired of having to tinker with every pipe he purchased, Fritz decided to simply make his own from scratch. His son Paolo was similarly enticed by the project, and in 1974, the two of them began crafting pipes together. After a few years the famous Carmignani tobacconist in Rome began carrying Fritz & Paolo’s pipes under the Carmignani name. By 1979, the Beckers’ pipes were so popular that they were able to step out from the shadow of Carmignani and sell pipes under the family name instead. Becker pipes have been an Italian institution ever since.

Today, Becker pipes are made by Federico Becker, the son of the late Paolo Becker, and that’s where pipes like this one come in. Just like Paolo, Federico began his career as a pipe maker working with his father, and the two made Becker pipes together for a few years around the late 2000s and early 2010s. Since Paolo passed away in 2014, all Becker pipes have been made solo by Federico.

Again much like his father and grandfather, Federico’s work is distinguished by its neoclassical bent, though it is perhaps Federico more than any other Becker (thus far) who has also brought a decidedly modern sensibility into his designs. This Four Club grade Becker, for example, does not stray entirely from the language of traditional Anglo-French design, though it does possess a marked sharpness that is quite characteristic of Federico’s singular style.

The condition is great. Minor inner rim darkening and some very slight tooth chatter.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 21.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.82″ / 46.22mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g