Tom Eltang: Smooth Devil Anse Tobacco Pipe

Tom Eltang's many talents speak to a man of great experience, one who has worked with some of the foremost names in Danish pipe making, all of which is exactly the case with the respected Artisan. At 16 Eltang apprenticed under Anne Julie before repairing pipes for Pipe-Dan, and then touring Europe for Stanwell, demonstrating pipe making at events in tobacco shops. During this time, Eltang's eye for shaping, sense of pipe function, and his own personal style evolved, and, when he finally decided to make pipes on his own, he attained a reputation for crafting fine smoking instruments such as this Devil Anse, a signature shape for Eltang.

Made popular by its inclusion in the History Channel original series Hatfields and McCoys, where it was smoked by Kevin Costner's portrayal of the infamous and eponymous West Virginian "Devil" Anse Hatfield, the Devil Anse has found a home in both the canon of contemporary pipe making and the work of Eltang. Essentially a compact Belge, this shape is one that lends itself to portability, practicality, and comfort, all of those exemplified by Tom in this piece. Coming in at just over four and a half inches long and weighing less than an ounce, this Nosewarmer can be slipped easily into a pocket or clenched comfortably despite its straight orientation. Boasting a respectable chamber tucked away within its walls, the bowl here is plump and supple, with soft rounding throughout its build that lends it an extremely comfortable feel in hand. Its appreciable forward cant keeps things looking interesting up front, and the wide, cheeked transition enables easy thumb draping while accentuating the curves of the bowl.

The shank and stem here are possessed of a subtle, consistent taper throughout their length that runs from the transition to the button, keeping things looking extremely sleek while placing more emphasis on the presence of the bowl. This combination's ovoid shape is something I didn't expect when I first saw the pipe, though I appreciate its inclusion, as it adds body to the pairing without interrupting the clean lines of the profile view. Dressing this piece is a stunning contrast stain that unveils wrapping cross grain through the fore, top, and bottom, with bountiful seas of birdseye peppering both flanks of the bowl.