Tonni Nielsen: Smooth Freehand Bent Dublin Reverse Calabash (Viking) Tobacco Pipe

While the overall form of this tight-knit, active Dublin shape is nothing new from Tonni, the engineering is a different matter entirely. Simply put, this is the first reverse Calabash design we've received from Nielsen, counting both new and estate pipes alike. What's most interesting is how inconspicuous he's rendered the condensation chamber. While many makers and marques would emphasize the stouter shank (stouter due to the fact that it must accommodate that internal condensation chamber) with whimsical flair, Tonni's simply bumped up the proportions of the chamber walls and transition to make for a balanced look overall. He made it an integral part of the overall composition, tying it together with the bowl through a beautiful teardrop line which dissolves neatly into the taper of the bowl. It's all so seamless, so perfectly executed that, had I not removed the mouthpiece and looked inside the mortise, I doubt I ever would have guessed this was a reverse Calabash design. What an expert piece from Tonni!