Danish Estates: Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Pipe of the Year 2019 Sandblasted (94) Tobacco Pipe

For the fifth release of Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's Pipe of the Year, the Danish brand commissioned Danish pipe maker Peder Jeppesen of Neerup to produce the limited series. Årspiben 2019 (Danish for "pipe of the year") hearkens to Erik's father, Peter Stokkebye, and this bent Billiard rendition was modeled after a pipe Peter himself smoked in the mid-1970s. 4th Generation is a company built upon family tradition, and Årspiben 2019 celebrates that heritage. This particular offering wears an elegantly low-profile sandblast — evidence of Peder Jeppesen's reputed handiwork — and is adorned with a sterling silver band, made by a jeweler in Copenhagen exclusively for this series. The accent band features the 4th Generation logo in detailed relief for a timeworn aesthetic that fits well with the pipe's overall vintage theme. Only 100 total pipes were made for Årspiben 2019, with each serialized for individuality and collectible appeal.

The low-profile sandblast of the Dark Porter series offers just the right hint of texture in hand while still maintaining the lines of this pipe's silhouette. Such a combination is typical among Danish pipes and is reflected in Peder Jeppesen's handling of this finish. The maker behind Neerup pipes, Peder also fashions a number of Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's pieces, merging his own artistic style with the tobacco brand's rich, familial tradition. That aesthetic is evident in the Dark Porter's subtly contrasting stain, the prominent, porter hue darker than 4th Generation's similarly inspired Brown Ale series but interspersed with lighter sections for added depth and a rich, black-and-tan motif.