Danish Estates: Kent Rasmussen Smooth Volcano with Olivewood (Two Stars) Tobacco Pipe

Born in Randers, Denmark, Kent Rasmussen has been working with wood and making things with his hands since he was a child, working as a technical construction assistant as he grew into adulthood, though moving on to work as a modern artist in 1988. He worked across a variety of mediums while doing so, and, in 1994, made his first pipe from a pre-drilled block of briar and preform stem before ceasing all carving for for years. After growing tired of the art world he started crafting pipes again, though more seriously, in 1998 before, in 1999, he met Teddy Knudsen who triggered something of an awakening in him, making him realize that pipes themselves could be art, and fueling a passion for the craft. He now carves with such a mindset, creating pieces that are often times sculptural, evocative, and utterly singular as they reflect his own sensibilities, much like this Volcano.

The Volcano isn't exactly a rare shape from Rasmussen, though this style of Volcano is one we don't see too often, though it is still something of a signature from him. The shank and stem here are angled upward in a striking way that's made all the more noticeable thanks to the shank's relative lengthiness, with the stretch of briar tapering from the wide transition before flaring slightly as it reaches the junction, the stem base continuing this flare. The stem itself is a trim saddle affair with a base that's been adorned with a broad band of olivewood and a bit that takes on a demure downturn for easy smoking. At the flanks of this combination are a pair of firm ridgelines that wrap around the base of the pipe, creating one of the Volcano's signature elements, and on top we see a slightly softened peak that leads into the wide transition smoothly before dissipating. At the base we see a subtle rounding about the middle, hollowing out just a bit as it spreads out toward the outside edge, and this allows the pipe to sit easily, balanced at the transitional area and rocking gently if disturbed. The bowl here tapers swiftly as it grows, the angle of the transition informing its upward expanse at the aft, while the fore wall takes on a bit more of a stolid, upright posture, the briar being taken in just a bit after it comes out of the base. Dressing the stummel here is a warm mahogany stain that unveils beautiful licks of flame and straight grain surrounding the bowl and running through the shank, while the underside is covered in swirling birdseye.