Danish Estates: Stanwell Duke (45) (SM) (2015) Tobacco Pipe

Stanwell's "45" shape is a broad-chambered, straight Pot that adheres closely to the classic English archetype — though the heel and transition have been softened just a touch per the Danish tradition. The bowl itself is broad and thick, with walls that take on an extremely subtle taper up toward a domed rim, lending the silhouette a bit of softness in hand. The wide transition gives way to a straight, round shank out back, and it's met by a sleekly tapering stem of black acrylic at a brassy junction band. This particular example comes dressed in the warm stain and smooth finish of the Duke series, revealing handsome grain throughout.

During World War 2, while Europe was embroiled in turmoil, briar scarcity and limited international shipping meant that Danish pipe smokers couldn't obtain pipes from England. To fill this void, Poul Nielsen began making pipes out of beechwood under the name Kyringe. After the war, Nielsen transitioned to making briar pipes and eventually changed his brand's name to Stanwell. Stanwell became an immensely popular marque that often collaborated with notable Danish artisans, like Sixten Ivarsson, Jess Chonowitsch, Anne Julie, and Tom Eltang.