Lasse Skovgaard: Smooth Bent Dublin with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Son of pipe maker Benni Jørgensen, Lasse Skovgaard began crafting pipes at the age of 16, and by the age of 18, he started work at the prestigious W.Ø. Larsen, where he made tampers for a time. Before long, he moved up the ranks at Larsen and started fashioning the workshop's Straight Grain pieces. Under the mentorship of the great Teddy Knudsen, Skovgaard honed his skills and eventually began crafting pipes under his own name. He quickly rose to prominence, and he now enjoys a loyal following that prizes his pipes for their sophisticated shaping, handsome finishes, and elegant line work.

This bent Dublin is a fine example of Skovgaard's style and a rather handsome bit of craftsmanship. Hoisted atop a subtly lifted heel, the bowl cants forward and flares outward into a broad, ridgeline-wrapped rim. Due to vertical compression along its flanks, the bowl is oval in shape, its pinched sides further accentuating the bowl's active, dynamic stance. The shank curls from the low-set transition and flares ever-so-slightly into an accent of horn, which gives way to a demurely curved mouthpiece of jet-black vulcanite. The shank's expansive trajectory mirrors the bowl's bloom, creating a bit of visual symmetry on either end of the stummel. The horn accent adds a dose of vibrancy to the composition that complements the warm, traditional smooth finish that dresses the stummel. Said finish highlights some impressive streaks of flame around the bowl as they rise toward a rim populated with birdseye.