Smooth Bent Egg (Jewel of Denmark) (A) Tobacco Pipe

Exhibited in this bent Egg from Kai Nielsen is a thoroughly Danish aesthetic. The fore wall's swell lends the pipe a sense of balance by beginning a graceful curve that underscores the entirety of the pipe. Said curve sweeps from the deeply slanted rim, down the slick front wall, and around the softened heel before continuing into an upswept shank punctuated by a demurely downturned stem. This undercurve is made even more smooth and elegant by Nielsen's signature flattening of the shank's underside, which creates blunt ridgelines along the flanks that help to define the undercurve's shape. Another feature common across Nielsen's portfolio is the half-saddle stem, presented here with a thick, swelling base.

A dark auburn stain dresses the stummel, displaying rich rays of flame grain radiating from the rim throughout the bowl down to the heel, where it meets a river of churning birdseye that flows up through the shank. A trim accent embellishes the bottom of the stem, providing a brief point of contrast between the autumnal hues of the stummel and the black acrylic stem. Jewel of Denmark is Nielsen's grade used to specify his best works. Most pipes graded Jewel of Denmark are given a further sub-grade between "A" and "D," with this beautiful pipe having earned the prestigious "A."