Former: Sandblasted Apple Tobacco Pipe

Hans "Former" Nielsen has supervised the W.Ø. Larsen workshop, worked with Emil and Jess Chonowitsch, helped develop the marque Bentley, and refined his renowned pipe making skills over the past 60 years, cementing him as a living legend. Many of Former's shapes are traditionally-inclined and turned on lathes, but he does make a number of imaginative Freehands as well. Furthermore, every Former pipe features impeccable engineering to ensure a superb smoke.

This Apple by Former is a tidy rendition of the classic shape. A pert bowl sits at the fore, its plump form fitting pleasantly in one's hand while adding heft to the composition. Out back, a cylindrical shank is slightly elongated compared to traditional proportions, giving the profile a sleek balance. Furthermore, the shank flows into an abbreviated cumberland saddle stem, which, along with the shank, hints at the iconic Lovat shape. Additionally, the stummel is dressed in a chocolate-hued sandblast, highlighting undulating growth rings that radiate around the bowl in deep, concentric crags that exude rustic appeal.