Kai Nielsen: Smooth Bent Brandy (Jewel of Denmark) (A) Tobacco Pipe

As the son of Viggo Nielsen, the founder of the Bari pipe factory, Kai Nielsen was predisposed to take up the craft. Kai began working at Bari when he was still a teenager, eventually graduating to a full-time employee when he turned 21. He's now an artisan with over 50 years of pipe-making experience, his distinctive style and honed skills evident in every pipe he fashions. This bent Brandy is a fetching showcase of Nielsen's style and a member of the Danish artisan's Jewel of Denmark line, which represents the finest craftsmanship in the carver's portfolio. Unlike many of Nielsen's pipes, this piece is rather muscular, boasting a sturdy in-hand presence and muscular bowl. The shape's brawny build is accentuated by the shank's firm, architectural lines, which add a touch of crispness to the form's silhouette while providing some pleasing contrast to t he bowl's supple curves. It's all dressed in an auburn smooth finish that highlights some dashing grain throughout the stummel.