Smooth Acorn (Four Hearts) Tobacco Pipe

The late Paolo Becker's artistic style is a difficult one to really pin down. One moment, his designs seemed to be dominated by clean lines and an sharp, aerodynamic forms. Other times, it was bold freehand interpretations of the classics, often incorporating themes like his signature wasp-waisted transitions and flared shanks — all while experimenting with various mediums outside of briar. But just when you think you've hit the head of the style's proverbial nail, we find a soft, gentle, organic composition like this Four Hearts Acorn, and then. back to square one. Sure, many artisans progress and change styles over their careers, but I can think of only a handful to execute each with such mastery. And therein the problem lies. Paolo Becker didn't just have a signature shape. His shapes in all their ever-changing variations were his signatures — ones we'll remember forever.

- Andrew Wike