Former: Sandblasted Apple with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Though following the Danish classical approach to pipemaking, the majority of Hans "Former" Nielsen's work is rendered quite large — with a clear emphasis on the interplay between smooth, supple Danish lines and stouter, more muscular proportions. This straight Apple, then, is something of an outlier, being quite a lean, diminutive number compared to Former's other work — measuring under five inches from end to end, and weighing just over 26 grams. That said, the bowl itself is still quite muscular, with a decent-sized chamber and stout insulating walls, producing plump cheeks to either flank. It's presented here in quite a classy style as well, matching its crisp, ruby-tinged sandblast with a broad bullet-nosed accent of sterling silver. For collectors of Former's work, or small renditions of Danish classics in general, this isn't one to miss.