Danish Estates: Jess Chonowitsch Smooth Billiard Tobacco Pipe

With over forty years of experience, Jess Chonowitsch is a master carver that has left an indelible mark on the craft of pipe making. Discerning collectors regard Chonowitsch's elegant style, clean line work, and precise shaping as second to none, and it's hard to argue that point when considering this Billiard. It's a traditional shape rendered in the sleek, minimalist way for which Chonowitsch is known, stripping away any unnecessary visual noise or accoutrements and presenting the shape in its most functional form. The proportions on display are perfectly balanced and finely executed, with the shank as long as the bowl is tall, making for a pipe that's an absolute dream to hold. The oval shank and the tapered stem keep the composition understated in profile and naturally lead the eye to the tall, stocky bowl at the fore of the composition. Said bowl is a muscular presence within the overall design, its thick walls rising from the plump, rounded heel and tapering subtly to the rim. It's all handsomely presented in a warm, auburn-hued smooth finish that highlights the whorls of birdseye and the windswept flame grain of the bowl beautifully.