Kai Nielsen: Smooth Rhodesian with Silver (Jewel of Denmark) (B) Tobacco Pipe

A second-generation Danish pipe maker, Kai Nielsen is the son of Viggo Nielsen, who helped found the marque Bari in 1948. Kai Nielsen often spent time around the workshop in his childhood, and began working there at 21 years of age. Over 50 years later, Kai Nielsen is still making pipes. Nielsen makes traditional shapes with a classic Danish style, evidenced by many of his pipe's gestural profiles and supple bowls. Few pipe makers have more experience than Kai Nielsen, and his lifelong skill is evident in each pipe he crafts.

This Rhodesian by Kai Nielsen is an exceedingly muscular rendition of the classic shape. The thick, insulating walls of the bowl flare from a defined ridgeline on the heel to a broad waistline adorned with beadlines. Then, the walls dramatically taper inwards from the waistline, lending more compositional weight to the bowl. A low-set transition flows into a cylindrical shank, and the ridgeline on the heel extends onto the bottom of the shank, defining the crisp profile before blending into the rounded shank. A wide silver band glistens on the shank end, providing a dash of flash to the classic pairing of the jet-black stem and chestnut stain. Furthermore, the smooth finish dresses gorgeous strokes of flame grain that ascend to the tapered rim, which is pockmarked with whorls of birdseye. Additionally, the stem features an extended taper to the bit, showcasing a sinuous S-curve and fleshing out the pipe's muscular disposition.