Sandblasted Oversized Apple Tobacco Pipe

Once supervisor of the prestigious W.Ø. Larsen workshop and manager of Bentley pipes in Switzerland and Germany, Hans "Former" Nielsen has been crafting pipes for over sixty years, including his own handmade work still available today. His pipes are among the most collected and renowned in the world, and he's as much a capable machinist and craftsman as he is a discerning artist: His pipes are the pinnacle of engineering and quality, and his shaping style adheres to artisan renditions of timeless designs. Former's portfolio comprises countless Apple and Billiard designs, among other classics, and this particular Apple rendition is among his most signature œuvres.

Former's Apple renditions are among the most vigorously collected and celebrated among all of his pipes. They beautifully showcase the Danish artisan's mastery of line and proportions, and they're renowned for their smoking properties and lifelong reliability. This version, however, is a rare outlier due to its increased size. Typically, Former's Apples are neat and compact, perfect for travel and everyday enjoyment, but this piece is of Magnum size comparatively. From the pictures, such size is difficult to discern, the proportions well balanced, but in hand, this pipe impresses with its substance and mass at over six inches in length and a bowl over two inches tall. A Lovat-like shank-and-stem arrangement supports the bowl, and it's dressed in Former's signature sandblast, with lighter flecks peeking through the chocolate stain to match the smooth, gently inflated rim. For fans of extra-large pipes akin to Dunhill ODA and Ashton Magnum size, this is a handmade piece worthy of consideration and with the aesthetic appeal and quality engineering to support it.