Kai Nielsen: Smooth Billiard (Jewel of Denmark) (B) Tobacco Pipe

The son of Viggo Nielsen, founder of the Bari pipe factory, Kai Nielsen got his start in carving at an early age, working in the factory as a teenager for pocket money before switching to full-time work there at 21. Now he enjoys an excellent reputation as an artisan in his own right and has acted as a mentor to others, including Kurt Balleby. This Billiard from the Danish artisan is a lovely piece and has earned the Jewel of Denmark designation at a B grade. Despite looking rather hearty, this pipe is remarkably small, coming in at just over four and a half inches long and offering a feathery lightness in hand. The bowl here is slender with a rounded heel and subtle taper to the rim, with the easy lines and supple contours that define Danish design quite evident. A low-set transition accentuates both the bowl's svelte design and the shank's impressive slimness, its low-set pairing to the bowl marked by a sleek taper through the stem. It's dressed in a deep, rich stain that reveals a wealth of handsome grain around the stummel, pairing well with the stem's black vulcanite to keep the palette timeless.