The Italian Billiard

[Zeno Marx]

I've wanted to start this thread for months, and I wanted it to be done with a grand presentation.  Then.  Life.  Happens.  This will have to do.

This has become possibly my favorite shape.  I'm not out beating the paths of new makers, so one of the things I hope to glean is a list of present-day makers who offer this shape.  As far as I know, Larry Roush is the only maker who admires this shape enough to offer them on the regular.  If you enter "italian" in your browser find box, you'll see his various takes on the Italian billiard.

Sometimes tall, almost smokestack like (not my favorite).  Sometimes with bowl slightly cantered away.  Almost always angular with thicker walls in the heel than at the rim as it deceptively tapers as you follow its upward line.  Unlike the English take, there isn't a roundness in the body.

Anyone else a big fan?  Photos you'd like to share?  Makers you know who sell them?

 

[SpeedyPete]

I'm not sure if you are talking about billiards by artisans?

I love Italian pipes, more so than English pipes, and especially Savinelli. I have quite a number of Sav billiards which are beautiful in their simplicity.

I love the bulldog shape and own 16 of them. Second comes billiards of which I own 15. That's out of a total of 72 pipes.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I'm not sure if you are talking about billiards by artisans?

Not to get into that discussion, but I don't know what that term even means anymore (in regard to pipes). I don't care if someone makes a dozen pipes a year at $2K/ or if a factory makes 5,000. I'm interested in hearing about any outfit making the Italian billiard shape, and to be clear, just because a billiard was made in Italy, it isn't necessarily an Italian billiard shape.

 

[daveinlax]

I collect Castello shape 15 billiards there is a wide range in this shape but I love the big, bold, square shoulder billiard with a parallel shank rather than the taper. I like them a little taller rather than squat. If you are interested here are two albums that show them. The quality of the photo's leave a lot to be desired but anyway. :shock:

https://s135.photobucket.com/user/Davesixtythree/media/GKCPC%202015/3b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=49
https://plus.google.com/photos/104611199703561251325/albums/5877073340317230689

 

[Zeno Marx]

Thanks. I like that collection a lot. Reminds me of how perfectly Castello nailed the lovat with short saddle bit (shape 75). They make a very sharp drum of a bowl. The epocas are especially nice from your photos.