S. Bang Smooth Twisted Rhodesian (A) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Founded by Svend Bang in the late 1960s, S. Bang is known for their flawless, classically shaped pipes. Not long after the brand's establishment, artisan pipe makers Per Hansen and Ulf Noltensmeier joined forces with Svend, eventually inheriting the workshop from him after his retirement. When the duo was also ready to retire, there were no inheritors to whom they could pass on the workshop, so they closed their doors for good. As such, S. Bang pipes are highly sought after, with the last ones produced in 2019. Even before the workshop's closure, S. Bang pipes were widely regarded as some of the most beautiful and significant pipes in modern history, and when looking at this beautiful Rhodesian, this comes as no surprise.

Though it measures only a little over five inches in length, this Rhodesian packs a whole lot of style into those compact proportions. Its waist is extra-wide and high-set, giving it an almost Saucer-like aesthetic from the smoker's perspective. In profile, its sleek, Ivarsson-esque teardrop shank extends all the way up to the high bevel of the bowl, seemingly lengthening the form as a whole with quick, dynamic grace. The shank takes on a subtle upward motion as it approaches the saddle stem, which is just slightly downturned. As for the grain, as you might expect from an A-grade S. Bang, there's plenty to admire: fine, near needlepoint-sized birdseye swirls along either flank while tight, sweeping cross-grain runs practically dead center down the middle of the bowl and shank.