Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation: Argang Dark Porter (1966) Tobacco Pipe

The "1966" pipe design corresponds to Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's 1966 tobacco blend. While most of 4th Generation's mixtures and related pipe shapes are named to honor the birthdates of the family brand's patriarchs — Erik, his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather — 1966 commemorates Erik's younger brother and celebrates the Stokkebye family's long standing tobacco tradition. Like many of the pipe shapes made for Erik Stokkebye, the "1966" was designed and fashioned by Danish carver Peder Jeppesen of Neerup, and while the general gesture of the profile resembles 4th Generation's "1957" Acorn, the "1966" is a more soft-lined rendition: The bowl is more squat and bears a rounded rim, with the lithe curves of the shank and stem flowing seamlessly through the bowl's heel and fore side.

The low-profile sandblast of the Dark Porter series offers just the right hint of texture in hand while still maintaining the lines of this pipe's silhouette. Such a combination is typical among Danish pipes and is reflected in Peder Jeppesen's handling of this finish. The maker behind Neerup pipes, Peder also fashions a number of Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's pieces, merging his own artistic style with the tobacco brand's rich, familial tradition. That aesthetic is evident in the Dark Porter's subtly contrasting stain, the prominent, porter hue darker than 4th Generation's similarly inspired Brown Ale series but interspersed with lighter sections for added depth and a rich motif.