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

Son of Viggo Nielsen, Kai Nielsen has a lifetime of experience working in the pipe industry. From assisting his father in the Bari pipe factory to creating the Faaborg pipe with his brother, Kai has constantly learned and grown as a craftsman. The Jewel of Denmark grade is used to categorize some of the artisan's best work, with sub-grades ranging from A to D - A being the highest. This particular Jewel of Denmark bent Brandy is denoted with the A grade, making it ideal for collectors and fans of Nielsen alike. The bowl dramatically cants forward as its walls rise from a full-bodied heel and taper inward to the rim, resembling the pipe's namesake. Cheeking along the transition gives way to a shank that is paneled along its underside, adding some structure to the aft of the pipe. The panels continue past a white accent band at the junction, all the way through the base of a vulcanite half-saddle stem, whose inky pigment pairs well to the walnut-stained stummel. Earning the A grade, gorgeous flame grain is seen across the flanks of the bowl while impeccable patches of birdseye can be found along the underside.