Natural Smooth Apple with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Danish carver Hans "Former" Nielsen is a venerated master of the craft, with 60 years of pipe-making experience. Like many pipe makers of his generation, he learned and worked in the prestigious W.Ø. Larsen workshop. He eventually began making pipes under his own name from his home studio. His work is defined by sleek, graceful line work, a keen sense for balance, and a stunning attention to detail, as evidenced by this Apple design.

Equal parts muscular and sleek, this Apple sees a plump, full-bodied bowl balanced at the fore of a sturdy shank and a trim saddle stem. Said bowl stands atop a wide heel and grows thick walls that take on an arcing taper to a flat rim — the resulting curvature produced by this taper offering a comfortable in hand presence and lending a pronounced visual softness to the shape's profile. A cheeked transition accentuates the fullness of the bowl's aft and provides a clear visual break between the bowl itself and the shank-and-stem arrangement. The shank and stem are joined at a junction marked by a bright silver band that lends a touch of complementary flash to pipe's bright, light palette. A natural smooth finish completes this ensemble and highlights a gorgeous showing of grain, with tight bands of flame grain stretching across all sides of the bowl.