Lasse Skovgaard: Smooth Bent Egg Tobacco Pipe

Joining the likes of Teddy Knudsen and Jess Chonowitsch, Lasse Skovgaard worked for W.Ø. Larsen and carved the workshop's esteemed Straight Grain pipes before leaving to pursue his own artisan pipe-making career. Working for Larsen developed a skilled foundation for Lasse, both stylistically and technically, and his pipes often cater toward traditional Danish shapes. Most of his designs are bent and display a dramatic sense of sinuosity that helps define Skovgaard's personal aesthetic.

In this bent Egg, that sinuous gesture is evident in the stem's dramatic recurve balancing out the tapered upward curl of the shank. Both the shank and stem are integrated beautifully as the base of the saddle stem continues the lines of the stout shank. Said shank flares toward the bowl, meeting it at a defined transition that accentuates the curves of the lower bowl. The bowl's supple shaping results in a welcome, voluptuous in-hand feel, with its chubby base and tapering flanks rising up to meet the flat rim. Meanwhile, the deep, high-contrast chestnut stain does well to highlight the impressive grain across the bowl while remaining subtle enough not to distract from the elegant shaping.