Tom Eltang: Smooth Natural Acorn with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Tom Eltang knew when he was a child that he wanted to be a pipe maker. At age 16, he apprenticed to Anne Julie, and his career in pipe making began. After working with Julie for three years, he moved onto the Pipe Dan workshop and later to Stanwell. Then Eltang set out on his own in 1980, and has crafted pipes under his name ever since. Based in a workshop in Copenhagen, Eltang produces nearly any shape one can think of and utilizes myriad finishes. Although Eltang's catalog of pipes is vast, they are all united by his classic Danish style.

This Acorn by Tom Eltang is a superbly supple rendition of the shape, which is framed by a gestural arc that flows from the shank end, along the underside, and to the rim. The bowl here is quite plump, with a high-set waistline providing a curvaceous surface to clutch the pipe. Out back, a demurely bent shank adds some length to the composition, resulting in aesthetic balance. Furthermore, the shank features a horn accent, which hides creamy striations in a dark background. The vulcanite stem bends downwards, but does not quite reach parallel, creating an open-ended flow that drives this pipe's forward momentum. Additionally, the stummel highlightings vertical grain and birdseye on the bowl, dressing them in a natural finish that will surely develop a fine patina as one frequently enjoys smoking this pipe.