Benni Jorgensen: Smooth Bent Apple Tobacco Pipe

After suffering a back injury that forced him to retire from carpentry, Benni Jørgensen found a new line of work. Like many Danish artisans of his generation did, he found a home at the esteemed W.Ø. Larsen workshop, where he worked for 20 years carving the workshop's finest pieces. Since then, Jørgensen has crafted handmade pipes under his own name, and over his 40 years of experience in the craft, he has acquired a reputation as one of Denmark's premiere artisans. Discerning collectors the world over hold Jørgensen in high esteem, and they prize his work for its unique blend of structure and softness, fluid line work, and impeccable finishes, all of which are on display with this bent Apple.

One of the carver's signature renditions, this bent Apple possesses a seamless curvature from the pointed fore of the rim to the bit of the arcing saddle stem. The plump, full-bodied bowl rests proudly at the fore of the composition and features a plump, rounded base accentuated by the cheeked transition. The bowl's rounded features and the general fluidity of the shaping are contrasted by the firm, pronounced lines of the curling shank, which resembles a Reuleaux triangle in cross section. The flanking ridgelines of the shank travel from the eye-shaped face to the underside of the bowl and seemingly hoist the bowl upwards. It gives the shape the appearance of the bowl being held up by the structure of the shank, perfectly articulating the intermingling architectural lines and softness curves of the design.

As is typical for Jørgensen's work, the grain on display here is absolutely stunning, a pure testament to the carver's ability to shape a block of briar to maximize its potential. Handsome streaks of flame grain flow across the sides of the stummel in unison while a dense field of birdseye spreads across the underside of the shank. It's all dressed in a warm, contrast-stained smooth finish that brings vivid definition to the grain.