Danish Estates: Kent Rasmussen Smooth Bent Bulldog with Masur Birch (One Star) Tobacco Pipe

Ever since Kent Rasmussen was a boy, he has been making things with his hands, be they wooden knives, swords, or boats, all made possible by his learning of tool use from his father. In 1981 Rasmussen finished his education as a technical construction assistant, before switching gears dramatically, and focusing instead on modern art in 1988, doing sculpture, painting, and relief carvings, finding pipe making in 1994. He dabbled in the craft at first, but in 1998 dove in seriously, meeting Teddy Knudsen in 1999, the man that showed him that pipes themselves can be art, igniting a passion for pipe carving that continues to burn to this day. It's doubtless that Rasmussen's experience in the art world has informed his shaping style, and the tutelage he received under Knudsen coalesced with this, merging with his own sensibilities to form a style that is equal parts classic and contemporary, form and function, something showcased by this bent Bulldog.

When I say bent to describe this pipe, I really do mean bent, as it is not simply a case of the shank being kicked up high to compliment the downturn of the stem, but the shank itself is a sweeping gradually tapering curve. The end of this shank is adorned with a trim ring of black vulcanite, separating the briar from a much broader ring of masur birch, contrasting both the stem and the hue of the briar wonderfully. As the shank sweeps into the transition, we see a slight cheeking, with the heel given a distinct, dramatic lift, becoming more upright as it travels toward the rim which, itself, is bedecked with a wrapping ridgeline. Speaking of which, in a twist on the traditional form, the shank is not given a diamond shape, but rather is a raised, semi-oval, with a domed top and dual ridges, one on either flank, situated near the bottom, further softening this profile. A warm mahogany stain dresses the briar here, revealing flame grain encircling the bowl and running along the flanks of the shank, with birdseye present on its topside and on the rim, completing the presentation in a timeless, classic fashion.