Henri Sorensen: Sandblasted Bing's Billiard with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Originally a glazier, Danish artisan Henri Sørensen primarily takes inspiration from his country's great artisans, with many of his pipes reflecting a skill for fine facets and timeless aesthetics. This Bing's Favorite-style Billiard is an excellent example of his talent for rendering classic shapes extremely well, staying true to its namesake while encroaching on Liverpool territory. The transition is wide and the shank is round, extending out quite a bit to meet the stem at a band of silver, with this extended shank being paired to a sleekly tapering stem of cultured amber. The combination is impressively slim, staying true to the Bing's Favorite style, and its lengthiness does well to balance the visual weight of the bowl while extending the reach of this pipe to more than six inches long. Despite its length, this pipe is impressively light, ensuring it remains portable and handy, with plenty of potential for hands-free smoking despite being straight. Up front, the bowl stands atop a rounded heel and boasts a low-set waistline, its walls taking on an easy taper to the rim while remaining subtly curvaceous and soft in hand. Dressed in an inky sandblast, the stummel is rich with texture and handsome grain, as the bowl displays stacks of concentric growth rings presided over by a smooth rim: one that offers ample contrast alongside the silver accent and vibrant stem.