Henri Sorensen: Partially Sandblasted Dublin with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Originally a glazier, Danish artisan Henri Sørensen has always been an adept craftsman. His fascination with pipes began as a smoker, a hobby he shared with his brother, with whom he made his first forays into the craft. Coincidentally, the brothers' employer's father was none other Jens "Tao" Nielsen, who mentored the young artisans. Today, Henri makes pipes under his own name, having also worked with Erik Nielsen, Tom Eltang, and Lasse Skovgaard. Sørensen's style owes much to Poul Ilsted's attention to line, as well the minimalism and organic nature of Eltang's and Skovgaard's work, respectively, though his particular combination of these elements is his own. This sleek Dublin is a distinctly Danish rendition of the shape, placing a pert bowl at the fore of a lengthy bamboo shank, with tapered walls and a softly spurred heel. Out back, a comfortable cumberland saddle stem offers an easy clench, creating a balanced color palette between the three knuckles of pale bamboo and deep walnut sandblast that dresses the stummel. Said stummel boasts fine ring grain around the bowl, while the smooth, domed rim shows off flecks of fine birdseye.