Tom Eltang: Smooth Acorn 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 showcases his fondness for crafting traditional Danish pipes. The bowl is robust, yet supple, as its walls flare to a broad, inflated rim that readily accepts a curling digit. Furthermore, the flare is the most pronounced at the fore, a classic Danish design cue that accentuates the sweeping posture of the heel and imbues the composition with a forward-thrusting momentum. The bent, rounded shank and the sleek, demure arc of the saddle stem further enhance the urging stance, which manifests a gestural profile that gently flows from bit to rim. Moreover, this piece is dressed in a vivid auburn smooth finish, highlighting thick streaks of flame grain on the bowl, which are bookended by mesmerizing swirls of birdseye on the rim and heel.