Smooth Rhodesian Tobacco Pipe

The daughter of renowned Danish artisan Kurt Balleby, Tine Balleby is an extremely talented artisan in her own right, boasting a shaping style true to the Danish tradition which honors the designs pioneered by her father. Initially unsure of whether she would enjoy the art of pipe carving, Tine was encouraged by her father to try it out, and she quickly discovered that the solitary, detail-oriented nature of pipe making was something which deeply appealed to her creative character. Taught by her father, Tine absorbed not only his finely honed skills, but his passion and deep knowledge of the craft, learning all of the minute aspects of carving that culminate in a truly excellent pipe. Marked by a meticulous approach to shaping, drilling, and finishing, Tine's pipes are precisely rendered and expertly engineered for phenomenal looks and functionality.

Immediately reminiscent of her father's straight Rhodesian renditions, this pipe showcases the unique way which the Ballebys have come to define their Bulldog and Rhodesian shapes, as both are marked by diamond shanks. In Rhodesians, such as this one, the bowl's iconic beadlines are oriented near the top, while the Bulldog's are set closer to the heel, making for profiles that are delightfully unique in their takes on the timeless shapes. This particular piece features an extended shank, one that's compressed at the top and bottom to form an ovoid diamond in concert with its crisp paneling, and its strikingly enhanced length serves to balance the robust presence of the bowl well. In addition to its four requisite panels, this pipe additionally features a pair of extra panels on the flanks, reinforcing the muscular look of this piece and creating an impressive bit of shaping near the fore. These two flat panels flow through the shank and into the flanks of the bowl, the ridges which frame them curling upward and flattening out the curves of the bowl near the transition while creating a slight channel near the underside of the bowl to reinforce its curvature at the same time: the disparate effects of this single design choice affording this pipe a rich complexity of form. The bottommost ridge of the shank continues through to the fore of the bowl as well, terminating near the midsection and creating a sharp line at the heel which supports the walls as they flare out to their high-set beadlines and cant forward, the taper to the rim ending with a slope into the chamber. Dressed in a warm and vibrant auburn stain, the stummel here is wrapped with a continuous band of flame grain, the streaks flanked by dense seas of birdseye on the top and underside.