Danish Estates: Bari Wiking Smooth Bent Egg (7091) (S) Tobacco Pipe

Viggo Nielsen founded Bari around 1950, and his sons, Kai Nielsen and Jørgen Nielsen, two Danish pipe makers in their own rights, both worked at Bari in their youth. Despite being devoted to classic Danish shaping cues, Bari also crafted pipes that fit in well with the Fancy Freehand tradition, with this Bent Egg being a good example of that style. The transition here is wide enough to accept a digit if necessary, and it gives way to a curling, flared shank that expands out into a plateau-capped face. Here the shank pairs to a striking, stylized saddle stem of black vulcanite. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded, rather pronounced heel and grows thick, supple walls that take on an arcing taper to a plateau-crowned rim, surrounding a capacious chamber and offering plenty of curvature to appreciate in hand. Dressed in a warm, rich stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout.