Tom Eltang: Smooth Freehand Tobacco Pipe

Tom Eltang's contribution to pipe making simply cannot be overstated. The Danish carver has been plying his craft for nearly 50 years, with his first foray into pipedom made at age 11. The artisan's reputation is stellar, with his influence seen across all schools of design, as he is known for mentoring young up-and-comers.

Tom offers an amplification of his signature Eskimo shape in this Freehand rendition, with an exaggerated, Calabash-like domed rim, low-slung profile, and visually prominent, sharp style of linework dominating the composition. The bowl is delineated by crisp ridgelines descending from the rim through the heel, then a tucked transition and shank before terminating at the tapered stem's lip button. A sleek, easy-flowing piece, this bulbous Freehand wears one of the carver's rich, auburn contrast stains, showcasing a wealth of gorgeous birdseye and fiery licks of flame grain.