Tom Eltang: Rusticated Devil Anse Tobacco Pipe

Danish carver Tom Eltang makes pipes in a wide variety of shapes and finishes, but whether it be a smooth Elephant's Foot or a sandblasted straight Billiard, all of his pieces display excellent attention to detail inside and out. And they should, as Tom has been making pipes since he was an adolescent, and perfecting his craft under the tutelage of mentors like Anne Julie. Now, with nearly five decades of experience, his work is known worldwide, with pipes like this charming Devil Anse recognizable as his work from across the room.

A compact Nosewarmer rendition weighing just 28 grams, it's set up well to both slip into a pocket and clench with ease. The briar is stained black and features Tom's signature undulating rustication pattern for plenty of finger traction and in-hand stimulation, with smooth, bright auburn accents at the rim and shank end for a pleasant contrast. The bowl surges forward, eager for its next load of tobacco, while a comparatively slender shank and lithely tapered, hand-cut vulcanite stem complete the charming shape perfectly.