Lasse Skovgaard: Sandblasted Tomato Tobacco Pipe

Lasse Skovgaard's pipe-making talents seem to be both inherited and well earned through hard work and dedication. A second-generation Danish carver, he was introduced to the craft by his father Benni Jørgensen and also learned from Teddy Knudsen, among others. At 18, Skovgaard began working for renowned workshop W.Ø. Larsen, where many of his fellow pipe makers also spent time. He struck out on his own in 2004, setting up his own shop and has since commanded a loyal following. The pipes in his portfolio range from classic shapes to more creative, Freehand-like designs, with this Tomato resting between those two aesthetics.

Measuring less than five inches in total length, this compact Tomato is well suited for portability. The low-lying, plump bowl cants slightly forward, with a gently lifting heel contributing to that profile. Fashioned with easy curves, it also features a concave rim, the edges lending a playful disposition. The affably charming bowl is set to a gradually upturning oval shank, the gestural sweeping countered by a slender, downturned saddle stem of jet-black vulcanite. The stummel is wearing a Danish style, low-profile sandblast, revealing the briar's natural grain patterns, while a band of natural briar at the shank end lends a handsome, contrasting accent.