Tom Eltang: Smooth Bent Brandy with Brass Tobacco Pipe

With over 40 years of pipe-making experience, Tom Eltang is a master of the craft, and his work is considered by many to be the high-water mark from which all other pipes are judged. Even with his esteemed reputation, Eltang continues to produce pipes at a mind-boggling rate, striving for perfection. This bent Brandy is a handsome showcase of Eltang's elegant style, displaying the Danish artisan's elegant line work and affinity for supple curves. Up front, a tall bowl stands atop an ample heel and grows thick walls that take on an arcing taper to a taut, flat rim. The bowl's gradual narrowing rounds out the shape's frame and creates a soft curvature that conforms naturally to the hand. A wide transition follows the bowl and marks the start of a vaulted shank that marries a steeply curved saddle stem of jet-black vulcanite. The shank and stem join at a junction accented with a bright band of brass: a flashy accompaniment to the pipe's bright palette. A warm, glossy smooth finish completes the ensemble and highlights fine tendrils of flame grain throughout the stummel.