Tom Eltang: Smooth Paneled Bent Egg with Horn (Snail) Tobacco Pipe

Danish artisan Tom Eltang is rightly regarded as among the foremost pipe carvers working today. Eltang has honed his craft for decades, sharing his knowledge with scores of promising pipe carvers over the years. This distinctive bent Egg rendition is a true rarity in the master carver's output, combining features of the Elephant's Foot with the Egg's supple curves. The bowl is the center of attention in this design, featuring plump and curvaceous walls at fore and aft that taper up to an angular rim that surges upward at either end, creating a unique silhouette. The bowl's flanks are defined by paneled ridges follow the curvature of the walls down to a subtle heel, creating a unique presence in hand. The transition is another outstanding feature in this piece. The section above the shank is planed and carved into the bowl's walls, creating a distinctive outline, defined by subtle ridges that join those of the paneled flanks in a way that offers a perfect place to drape a thumb. Out back, the round shank gradually flares to meet an elegant horn accent at its junction to a comfortably bent vulcanite saddle stem, offering an effortless clench and sleek lines that draw the eye to the unforgettable bowl. Dressed in a rich auburn stain, the stummel boasts immaculate birdseye at the fore and aft of the bowl, while the flanks display perfectly oriented cross grain. Sure to interest serious collectors, this piece has earned Eltang's coveted Snail designation, marking it as among his finest work.