Smooth Bent Stack with Horn (Snail) (M) Tobacco Pipe

Ever since discontinuing his planetary grading system a number of years ago, Tom Eltang has utilized his prestigious Snail grade stamp to recognize pipes of exceptional quality, often in regards to their shaping or sublime grain orientation. Many pieces that receive the esteemed appellation tend to be non-traditional forms, and when the Snail stamp adorns a classic shape it's almost always a bent pipe. This bent Stack continues that trend and is a thoroughly Danish interpretation all while remaining easily recognizable as the work of Tom Eltang. However, this particular one is a notch above the rest, bearing Eltang's coveted "M" stamp — his highest grade altogether, denoting true superlative masterpieces.

This bent Stack is a nod to an older style of Danish shaping, its tall bowl soft and lifting, with a subtle plumpness to its waistline and slight taper toward the rim. As expected from a Stack, the tobacco chamber is appropriately deep and offers ample room for your cherished blends. The bowl's extra height also means there's more surface area on which to display some truly captivating flame grain patterns. All dressed in one of the Danish carver's gorgeous contrast stains, the stummel is accented with a mount of horn at the shank-end — a classic Danish touch, the slight flare at the end mirrored by the disc-shaped base of the stem. A magnificent piece from the legendary Danish artisan and certainly deserving of its prestigious appellation.