Former: Partially Sandblasted Horn

Hans "Former" Nielsen has rendered a variety of Horn shapes, and this one falls into the more Dublin-esque category, as the bowl flares more dramatically after the gently curled transition — compared to other iterations which flare more gradually and consistently from shank-end to rim. With a subtle recurve at the stem, the overall profile displays a graceful S-curve in silhouette, with the topside line a touch tighter than the underside.

Though the rim is considerably broader and more splayed than the shank-end (as the shape requires), Nielsen has balanced the piece using a symmetrical pattern of finish. Starting with a crisp plateau at the rim, the Danish carver transitions to a section of smooth flame grain before seamlessly moving into a subtle, dark stained sandblast around the transition; then the pattern reverses, with yet another smooth area, before terminating at the plateaued shank-end. For one final artistic touch, Nielsen has positioned the disc-like base of the saddle stem at a slight angle, perfectly paralleling the offset orientation of the shank end. It's these balancing flourishes combined with world-renowned craftsmanship that make Former pipes some of the best the world has to offer.