Foundation Pipes: From Rome to the World
Anyone interested in the history of the Foundation Pipes by Musico will encounter a typically Italian story with many contributors. Although Massimo Musico is now the face behind the brand, other personalities have also left their mark.
The origin lies with Giorgio Musico, who ran a pipe shop in Rome. He worked particularly closely with Fritz and Paolo Becker. Giorgio took over a large part of their pipes to resell in his store.
A Shared Shop Brings Success
The collaboration was so successful that from 1990 onwards, they ran the shop together. Starting in 1995, pipes were also produced jointly. During this time, Massimo Musico developed a refined sense for silver ornamentation. The pipes gained international popularity, especially in Japan and the United States.
In 2002, Paolo Becker returned to focusing on his own line, Becker Pipes. The collaboration ended, and after his death in 2014, the remaining stock was sold off in the Rome shop, which remained open for a while longer.
The Development of Foundation
Massimo Musico continued on and launched Foundation by Musico. In the beginning, he worked with experienced pipe makers from Italy, and later crafted many models together with his son Giorgio. Advertising and middlemen were avoided, making the pipes especially authentic and attractively priced.
Thanks to their craftsmanship and classic aesthetic, Foundation Pipes have earned an excellent reputation. Their limited availability makes them particularly appealing to enthusiasts and collectors.
Still a Hidden Gem in Germany
In this country, Foundation pipes are still relatively unknown. However, the collaboration with Hans Wiedemann surrounding the HU Africa Line brought them some recognition in the 2010s.
Although Massimo Musico is now somewhat more reserved in public, he continued to supply selected online retailers in the US. Maintaining contact wasn't always easy – all the more helpful was the well-established network of pipe makers in Italy that Rauchr maintains today.
Grading System of Foundation Pipes
As with many Italian pipe brands, the grading system of Foundation and Becker & Musico can be a bit tricky to decipher. A more detailed overview is available on the official website of Massimo Musico. Here's a compact summary:
- Set: Smooth finish, reddish-brown
- Set Special: Smooth finish, reddish-brown, attractive grain
- Set Double Special: Smooth finish, reddish-brown, especially striking grain
- Club: Smooth finish, lighter color
- Club Special: Smooth finish, lighter color, good grain
- Club Double Special: Smooth finish, lighter color, especially pronounced grain
- Floodlight: Dark sandblast
- Floodlight Special: Light sandblast
- Floodlight Double Special: Light sandblast with top-grade grain
All Foundation pipes produced so far are non-filtered and fitted with an ebonite stem. At Rauchr, we are proud to offer you these rare pipes from Italy – traditionally crafted and with excellent value for money.
