Tao: Smooth Pot with Horn Stem Tobacco Pipe

Before becoming a pipe maker, Jens "Tao" Nieslen was a sailor, and as would be expected, he spent much of his life at sea. He traveled the world and sailed from port to port, an experience that informed his approach to pipe making, as the Danish carver typically crafts compact yet muscular shapes that are meant to be easily portable and quite durable. After meeting his wife, Nielsen gave up his sea-faring life and found work at the pipe shop of Wilhelm Jørgensen. He worked there for three years before he met Erik Nørding and was taken on as an apprentice. He eventually left, along with Poul Ilsted, to form the Svendborg pipe factory, which produced a great deal of high-quality pipes. Now, Nielsen crafts pipes under his own name, and he does so with a precision and vigor that has garnered him considerable praise and a loyal following. This Pot is a fine example of Nielsen's style and craftsmanship, and it showcases his impeccable shaping and finishing work rather brilliantly.

In keeping with Nielsen's usual style, this piece measures less than five inches in total length, making it perfect for on-the-go smoking and easy pocket-carry. Though compact and lightweight, this piece still possesses a muscular build, especially at the bowl, which stands atop a wide heel and boasts stout insulating walls. The tapering oval shank and abbreviated saddle stem lend the bowl even greater visual prominence within the composition, while keeping the pipe's aft looking fairly sleek in profile.

What's most visually captivating about this pipe, outside of its sturdy construction and precise line work, is the finish, which takes the form of a smooth, natural polish. The finish's vibrant hues highlight an immaculate showing of flame grain on all sides of the bowl, as well as tight clusters of birdseye around the chamfered rim. It's all topped by a gorgeous horn stem, the material's distinctive dark and creamy colors simultaneously complementing and contrasting the blonde stummel without ever taking direct focus away from the briar's stunning grain.