Lasse Skovgaard: Smooth Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

A second-generation pipe maker, Lasse Skovgaard's crafting skills can be attributed to an inherent, raw talent as well as having receiving tutelage from such renowned carvers as his father Benni Jørgensen, and from Teddy Knudsen, among others. At 18, Lasse went to work for the esteemed W.Ø. Larsen workshop in Copenhagen, where a number of his fellow carvers also spent time or for which they have created designs. Soon thereafter, he ventured out on his own, really hitting his stride when he began crafting pieces under his own name in 2004. The pieces that comprise his catalog range from classic shapes to more Freehand-like work.

This bent Dublin offers a bold, organic aesthetic, the tall, flaring bowl topped by an asymmetrical, undulating rim and lending a strong sense of forward momentum, as does the lifting heel. The soft lines and supple curves associated with Danish shaping are displayed throughout this piece, the sweeping undercurve marked by precise, yet subtle line work that forms the base of the upward-curling, triangular shank. The artisan has shaped this piece with a bit of a departure. Rather than designing the shank so that it flares at the face, he has instead reversed that trend; the shank here is thickest at the transition, narrowing toward its end, where it's topped by a gently downturned saddle stem. Skovgaard is certainly well-versed in shaping this Dublin so that it emphasizes the briar's grain orientation. Gorgeous vertical grain rises in tandem with the upward flare of the bowl and continues through the shank, while a wealth of handsome birdseye populates the wavy rim. It's all brought out by one of the carver's vibrant, orange-tinged stain. This is a stunning pipe imbued with a minimalist, naturalistic disposition and is sure to be a stand-out in one's collection of handsome Danish designs.