Danish Estates: Tao Smooth Natural Bulldog Tobacco Pipe

Jens "Tao" Nielsen spent his early years as a sailor, and thought he would spend his life at sea, until meeting his wife and deciding to stay ashore with her. He learned pipe making from Erik Nording, but soon joined Poul Ilsted to make their Svendborg pipes. Poul was considered the preeminent artisan when it came to faceted pipes, his precise paneling and line work admired everywhere, and Tao's skills developed similarly, as seen in this Bulldog. The shank is muscular and robust, displaying profound precision in its crisp edges, and is especially remarkable along the underside of the shank, which presents panels that extend into the bowl.

Except for that paneling and for the twin beadlines circling the piece's high waistline, the bowl is rounded, with a broad, generously contoured rim that drapes down to the beadlines in an organic, almost Apple-like attitude. A cumberland-hued accent band adorns the junction and provides a touch of vibrancy to the form, alongside the eye-popping, amber-hued mouthpiece. A warm, natural smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights stunning grain across the briar's surface, with tight flame grain ascending the bowl's walls and gorgeous whorls of birdseye across the rim.