Ropp: Mid-Century Smooth (M614) Tobacco Pipe

The "M614" bent Billiard exudes the neoclassic, Scandinavian elegance of Ropp's Mid-Century line. The forward-canted bowl is comprised of soft, tapering walls and a sweeping heel, imbuing the profile with a gestural, flowing momentum, a design aesthetic deeply associated with the Danish school. Out back, the slender, proportional shank joins the vulcanite stem at its flared base, which subtly accentuates the dynamic contours of the composition. From the base, the saddle stem demurely arcs downward to a wide bit, offering a final flourish of gentle curvature that rounds out the languid style of the easygoing "M614."

Ropp's Mid-Century series embodies the intersection between the French and Scandinavian pipe making traditions. After WWII, Scandinavian pipe production skyrocketed, infusing the craft with minimalist designs and functional aesthetics. The burgeoning Scandinavian workshops turned to France, the progenitor of pipe tradition, to supply them with the tools and knowledge necessary for escalating the modern pipe making movement. The Mid-Century series is comprised of old-stock stummels originally shaped during that exciting time, which were recently finished at the historic Chapius-Comoy factory. Furthermore, the shapes showcase iconic Scandinavian design cues like sweeping, gestural profiles and towering bowls. Additionally, every Mid-Century pipe wears one of Ropp's signature finishes, either a chocolatey sandblast or smooth auburn stain, with this piece being dressed handsomely in the latter.