Peter Heding: Smooth Volcano (Gold) Tobacco Pipe

Outside of those pipes that are directly neo-classical (such as his straight Pots or straight Dublins), the Volcano might be Peter Heding's most conservative shape. He may vary them in bend, length of shank, breadth and height of bowl, but from one to another he's still generally working within a familiar concept of what is the freehand, artisan-made, Danish Volcano. And that's just fine; not every briar needs to a be the first of some shape (or some particular reinterpretation of a shape) that we've ever seen, as often as Peter's are. Plus, put simply, if you are looking for a Danish-style Volcano, Peter Heding's are among the finest out there. Here the lines are smooth, the stance is taut, and the grain, as expected, is both both beautiful and thorough in its coverage.

- Eric N. Squires