Sandblasted Bent Dublin (Jewel of Denmark) (C) Tobacco Pipe

Kai Nielsen is the eldest son of Bari pipe factory founder Viggo Nielsen and started working at Bari for "pocket money" in his teens before joining the factory full-time in 1972, at the age of 21. Now a pipe artisan of many years in his own right, Kai's designs are thoroughly Danish, as is this bent Dublin, which Kai awarded his Jewel of Denmark designation at the "C" level.

The bowl of this Dublin from Kai is lightly canted and displays strong flame grain and growth rings through the dark stain, with birdseye circling the rim of the bowl. The shank kicks up into a lengthy, bent, half-saddle stem of vulcanite that matches easily with the stain. Kai's sandblast drew out the grain of this piece to great effect, and the stain and corresponding color of the stem allow for a sleek appearance that will no doubt please any fan of dark pipes.