Danish Estates: Former Handmade Smooth Bent Egg with Silver Tobacco Pipe

At the age of 15, Hans "Former" Nielsen began making pipes in Poul Rasmussen's workshop, where he learned the elements of artistry and engineering that would prove to be foundational to his decades-spanning career. He went on to work for the prestigious W.Ø. Larsen, refining his skills, training new carvers, and overseeing quality control. Nielsen eventually built his own workshop and began fashioning pipes under his own name, like this masterful bent Egg.

Like many of Nielsen's design, this piece possesses a fluidity to its construction, with the bowl poised by a subtly lifted heel and the shank-and-stem arrangement gently bent, all of which makes for a composition that's at once dynamic and easy of line. The tall, supple bowl possesses a subtle taper along its flank toward the heel, interrupted, briefly, by a bulbous expansion along the mid-set waistline before quickly resuming. While the bowl immediately draws the eye due to its gestural stance, the proportions on display on well-balanced and precise, which can be easily felt in hand. Nielsen has handsomely presented this piece in a smoky, grain-defining smooth finish and accented it with a band of flashy sterling silver.