This Italian tapered rolling pin, also known as a biconical rolling pin, is the traditional tool for rolling out pizza doughs and sheets of hand-made pasta. Across Europe, tapered rolling pins are used for making dumpling skins, Turkish gözleme, and are favoured by French patisserie chefs for the increased control they believe can be achieve with a tapered rolling pin. 

Instead of gripping this rolling pin at either end, rest the flat palms of your hand at either end to guide the rolling pin. Many say a tapered rolling pin will roll dough more thinly and with greater control than the more common 'handled' rolling pins - hence why they are favoured for pasta-making.