Danish Estates: Tom Eltang Smooth Ballerina with Horn (Snail) (2007) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Like the Elephant's Foot, the Sphinx, the Ramses, and the Cobra, the Ballerina was a shape originated by Bo Nordh, one of Sixten Ivarsson's students. The design is defined by a bowl that flares and curls from a sharply defined heel, shaped to reflect poised stance of a ballerina en pointe. It's a curvaceous and supple Freehand shape, with paneled flanks that slope from the fore-favoring rim and are decorated with cross grain. This interpretation from Tom Eltang holds true to the original form's shaping, but the Danish carver has elevated the design through a stylish accent and one of his vivid contrast stains.

The curvaceous shape makes the most of its vibrant and luscious grain patters, with the aforementioned flanks cloaked in cross grain and the fore and aft sides of the bowl displaying constellations of birdseye. Eltang has applied a smoky, contrast-stained smooth finish to the briar that really allows the nuances of the grain pop, especially when observed under the right light. The curling shank is extended by a cream- and mocha-hued horn mount, which livens the overall composition and immediately captivates the eye. The mount is fitted to a push-style saddle stem, enabling the design to be easily disassembled, even while the pipe is still hot. The elegance of the shaping, finishing, and engineering of this piece earned Eltang's prestigious Snail grade, and if that wasn't enough to entice a discerning collector, this pipe also remains unsmoked.