Danish Estates: S. Bang Smooth Billiard with Silver (UN) (02) (2016) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Per Hansen and Ulf Noltensmeier were the sole artisans employed by Svend Bang in his eponymous workshop for almost 50 years, starting in 1970 and producing pipes of superlative quality until their simultaneous retirement in 2019. As such, their work has now become extremely rare and, due to their exemplary smoking qualities and stunning beauty, supremely collectible, though, looking at this straight Apple, it's not hard to see why.

Sturdy, hearty, and unflinchingly robust, this Billiard was made by Ulf and boasts a muscular construction throughout its silhouette, affording it an imposing feel in hand. The stem here is a reserved taper of black vulcanite that's appreciably thick at the base, the junction between it and the shank wrapped by a broad, stylized fitment of silver that features a curvy outline that comes to a fang-like point on either flank — a signature of the Danish workshop. At the shank, we see that same kind of thickness that possesses the stem base, the shank marked by a gentle taper to the junction that places slightly more emphasis on the bowl while still balancing its presence. A wide transition pairs the shank to the bowl and leaves plenty of room to drape a digit, and, while it's not cheeked, it does well to showcase the contours of both the bowl and shank for an enhanced look of softness.

The bowl here is stout, complete with thick walls that stand atop a rounded heel, with this heel marking a low-set waistline at the fore that additionally marks the start of a sleek, easy taper to the rim. This taper affords the pipe a comfortable feel in hand, with plenty of curvature to appreciate while smoking, and it leads the eye toward the rim's subtle, soft dome. A gentle forward cant possesses the entirety of the bowl's build, lending the composition an understated bit of dynamism and highlighting the bowl's impressive height and stocky construction. Dressing the briar here is a warm walnut contrast stain that unveils dense striations of flame grain flickering up through the bowl's walls and running through the flanks of the shank, while the top and underside are awash with dense birdseye that is especially prevalent underneath.