Danish Estates: Benni Jorgensen Smooth Freehand Tobacco Pipe

Though he was interested in pipe making before, Benni Jørgensen got his proper start in the pipe world working for W.Ø. Larsen, as many fine Danish artisans of the time did. That being said, unlike many artisans of his era, Jørgensen stayed on with Larsen for 20 years, honing his craft for two decades before breaking out on his own with a wealth of knowledge and experience behind him. This Freehand piece showcases a shaping style that's quite organic overall, with gentle curves throughout and a striking presence in the hand.

Additionally, this piece showcases an appearance that's evocative of the Horn, with a sweeping profile throughout the stummel and a consistent expansion from the middle of the shank on to the rim. The shank itself flares out to its end, rounding out and possessed of a subtle inflation which sees the stem base nestling into the recess created by it, said stem's expansion ring stylistically mirroring a ridgeline which rounds the shank face. At the underside, a pair of additional ridgelines push out from the shank face's, following the outline of the stummel before curving rearward and framing the aft of the rim, meeting each other in a seamless travel that speaks to Jørgensen's talent. These ridges do very well to frame the stummel and accentuate the forward momentum that it fosters, making for a look that's utterly dynamic and striking. A wide transition leaves plenty of room to drape a thumb, and the entirety of the stummel itself is dressed in a warm auburn-mahogany stain that reveals flame grain following through the flanks, while the underside is awash with ample birdseye.