Former: 60th Anniversary Sandblasted Paneled Billiard with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Commemorating Hans "Former" Nielsen's 60th year involved in pipemaking, this paneled Billiard personifies the deft craftsmanship and stunning shaping that Nielsen has curated over his decades long career. That illustrious career began in 1959 when a 15-year-old Hans was hired to work in Poul Rasmussen's Copenhagen pipe shop. He, then, worked for W.Ø. Larsen, supervising a number of now-famous Danish carvers, before transitioning full-time into his own artisan career.

This piece here presents a timeless Billiard form comprised of six panels informing both the bowl and shank. Those facets continue into the horn mount at the shank end before being gently domed, guiding the eyes to the tapered stem. It's an example of classic Danish style — the crisp ridgelines of the panels contrasted by the soft curves of the silhouette and tapering bowl. Stamped "60" and with the dates 1959 and 2019, it's a beautiful piece, representing why Former remains one of the best alive.