Danish Estates: Jess Chonowitsch Smooth Billiard with Horn Tobacco Pipe

In some respects, Jess Chonowitsch was born with pipe making in his blood. As the son of Emil Chonowitsch, a famous pipe maker in his own right, Jess was exposed to the craft at a young age. He studied under Poul Rasmussen and learned the intricacies of pipe making before taking a job at the prestigious W.Ø. Larsen factory. Eventually, Jess found himself in the workshop of Sixten Ivarsson, the grandfather of artisan pipe making, where he studied for two years and learned the nuances of mouthpiece design, fit, and finish. Today, Jess Chonowitsch is an esteemed figure in the world of pipe making and boasts decades of experience. His work is widely praised for its precise shaping, superb engineering, and stylish finishes, all of which are evident when considering this Billiard.

At less than five inches in total length, this piece is a compact take on the classic shape, its reduced size making it perfect for on-the-go smoking and or easy pocket-carry. That being said, even given its reduced reach, this piece maintains visually balanced, with the bowl, shank, and stem each contributing equally to the shape's overall build. The careful balance of proportion and line allows for each aspect of this composition to be regarded on its own. The bowl ,for instance, boasts a subtle taper from its heel to its rim, with this delicate cinching resulting in a low-set waistline that conforms naturally to the hand. The sturdy shank acts as a naturally extension of the bowl's heel and glides effortlessly outward before terminating at the sleek saddle stem. The mouthpiece continues the shank's implied line while slenderizing the composition's aft side a bit, a shaping cue that naturally leads the eye to stem base's horn accent. The horn's creamy hues deftly complement the stummel's auburn finish, which deftly showcases some handsome flame grain around the bowl.

--Davin Hylton