Former: Sandblasted Bent Dublin with Horn Tobacco Pipe

A very retro, very Danish bent Dublin here, evocative of the early W.Ø. Larsen and Pipe-Dan designs that laid the groundwork for an entire culture of Danish pipe making, this piece was crafted by none other than living legend Hans "Former" Nielsen. Former began his career at the young age of 15, when he was hired to repair pipes in Poul Rasmussen's Copenhagen pipe shop, and later worked as a supervisor at W.Ø. Larsen before launching his own artisan pipe-making career. The rest is history, and after many decades of producing world-class smokers, Former enjoys a devoted worldwide following for his pipes and inspires an entire new generation of pipe makers.

While reaching a length of nearly six inches, this pipe employs a slender, svelte design to keep its weight at a mere 35 grams, showing exactly what can be accomplished with decades of experience and unmatched precision. It has been shaped perfectly to bring out undulating ring grain climbing the tall bowl, and Former has applied a low-profile sandblast and a stain that reveals natural briar at the blasted peaks to make it unmissable. The organic rim is packed with natural plateau, and a domed accent of genuine horn provides a complementing contrast at the shank end. One of Former's exquisitely hand-cut vulcanite mouthpieces curls gracefully out back, starting narrower than the stummel, then slowly and elegantly flaring to a fishtail to promise a comfortable perch between the teeth. An iconic pipe design, executed perfectly by a master of the craft, this piece will make an excellent centerpiece in even the most distinguished collection.