Smooth Walrus Tobacco Pipe

The Walrus is an old-school Danish Freehand shape most readily attributed to Sven Knudsen, the older brother of Teddy Knudsen. Like many of those early Danish artisans in the '50s and '60s, Sven sold his pipes through local tobacco shops, like W.Ø. Larsen and Pipe-Dan, and the Walrus shape appeared in catalogs as well as the shops' house-made pipes. At its root, the Walrus is a slightly bent Egg, marked by a lithe and sleek shank-and-stem combination and tall, slender bowl. Two protruding feet protrude from the heel, allowing the pipe to sit upright and informing the shape's playful name — resembling the front flippers of that arctic marine mammal.

Celebrating that Sven shape, Tom Eltang presents this version. The underlying Egg form fits in well to Eltang's signature aesthetic, presenting a streamlined minimalism full of soft Danish-style lines and gentle curves. The characteristic feet along the heel allow this piece to sit upright, making for a reliable desk pipe with the comfortable balance of one that's also bent. Grain orientation is exemplary too, with cross grain bisecting the flanks into seas of birdseye all highlighted by one of Tom's expertly applied contrast stains. Beautifully replicating vintage shaping and style with the benefits of modern finishing and Eltang's superlative bit work, this piece is a stunning pipe that pays homage to the history and tradition of Danish artisan pipe making.