Ropp: Mid-Century Sandblasted (M705) Tobacco Pipe

The Mid-Century line is a unique one from French marque Ropp, and its bevy of thoroughly Danish-style pieces make it a welcome home for the "M705" bent Egg seen here. The outline of this shape is one possessed of a strikingly developed curvature, where the wide transition gives way to a lilting, fluidly arcing shank-and-stem combination. Said pairing takes on a subtle bit of taper toward the button and maintains a slender outline throughout, keeping the weight of the pipe light and placing much of the visual emphasis on the bowl. A rounded heel supports this bowl as it grows tall, forward-canting walls that boast a mid-set waistline and plenty of curvature for the contours of the fingers to appreciate. Wonderfully sinuous and thoroughly Danish, this bent Egg profile is a charming and elegant piece which should be at home in both the hand and the jaw.

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 former.