A graduate of Italy’s prestigious Academia della Pipa, Michele Sottocasa has been making pipes for over a decade under the la Biota name. Prior to becoming a pipe-maker, Sottocasa trained and worked as a designer and art director, and la Biota pipes continue this drive towards a distinct aesthetic vision. The name, ‘la Biota,’ originally derives from ecology, and symbolizes the deep connection between humans and nature – a connection well represented by the hand-made tobacco pipe.

The ‘blowfish,’ often used interchangeably with the ‘fugu,’ is one of the most striking shapes to have come out of the mid-century Danish pipe-making revolution. I have heard that Lars Ivarsson was the shape’s originator, but I have also seen Sixten Ivarsson pipes that were at least precursors to its design. It is a strikingly narrow and vertical shape, with its bowl looking like an arrowhead from above. It is also incredibly difficult to make, and even more so to make well. Hence, I was very pleased to receive this one from Michele of la Biota. Here he has opted for a natural, Tanshell-like blast, which works wonders with the bird’s-eye patterns of the briar, and paired this finish with a playful, yet tasteful, ocean-blue ebonite stem. Now that I think about it, the latter is very fitting.

Details:

Length: 4.5″

Bowl Width: 18.7mm

Bowl Depth: 1.5″

Weight: 1.4oz / 42g