Danish Estates: Stanwell Smooth (140) (Unsmoked) (pre-2010) Tobacco Pipe

Stanwell's "140" shape was designed by Jess Chonowitsch, its shape resembling a poised, sinuously curved bent Dublin. A pert, flaring bowl stands up front, featuring a subtly rounded rim for an added softness to the profile. From the transition, the shank curls gently upward to meet a gingerly downturned tapered stem, the pair forming a gestural profile. This example here is dressed in a warm, rich stain that reveals handsome grain throughout, contrasted by a small metal plaque on the left flank of the shank.

Founded by Poul Nielsen, the Stanwell marque was a trailblazer for Danish pipe-making as it found its place on the global stage. During World War II, with briar supplies low and English pipes in short supply, Poul Nielsen sought to meet the needs of Danish pipe smokers by fashioning his own from beechwood under his company, Kyringe. Once the war was over and briar supply lines recovered, Nielsen changed the company's name to Stanwell, and the company would go on to collaborate with Danish pipe-making legends such as Sixten Ivarsson, Jess Chonowitsch, and Tom Eltang.