Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation: Argang Dark Porter (2012) Tobacco Pipe

Named after Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation's 2012 Anniversary Blend, this bent Dublin fits in well to the Danish marque's other designs which are likewise named after the brand's celebrated tobacco blends. Those mixtures draw their names from significant dates within the family company's generational history, and 2012 is the year Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation was founded. Shape-wise, this piece features a bold, subtly flaring bowl contrasted against the comparatively more slender and gestural shank-and-stem combination, exhibiting a tasteful combination of muscularity and fluid elegance.

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, black-and-tan motif.