Kurt Balleby: Smooth Bent Brandy with Mammoth Tobacco Pipe

We're no strangers to this bent Brandy design from Kurt Balleby, especially regarding the curve of shank and stem and the shaping at the transition. A lover of classic Danish forms, Balleby has stayed true to the archetype here, though it's at once readily recognized as Kurt's handiwork. The gentle bend of the mouthpiece and angle of the shank are seen across the Danish carver's portfolio, characterizing his bent pieces and, in this case, lending the bowl a poised disposition on the end. Moving through the transition, Kurt has extended the shank's underside all the way to the heel, making for a more defined transition and creating plump cheeking to further emphasize the bowl and all it's curvaceousness. It fits sublimely in hand, filling the palm, while the dark contrast stain accentuates consistent straight grain and birdseye alike. Lastly, Kurt's capped the shank-end with a pale and creamy mammoth accent, flared suddenly at the end for a subtle dose of fancy that's reminiscent of many a Hans "Former" Nielsen accent. It's beautiful work from Balleby and a stunning example of neoclassic Danish shaping and posture.