Tonni Nielsen: Smooth Calabash with Oak Top Tobacco Pipe

Tonni Nielsen has a strong affinity for the Calabash shape, and it's a design the Danish artisan constantly experiments with, having previously crafted the classic form from buckeye burl and imbuing another with reverse calabash engineering. This particular rendition is another impressive addition to Nielsen's portfolio, maintaining the shape's sinuous disposition and gestural nature. Its flowing line work and half saddle stem call to mind a Calabash we received a few years ago from Hans "Former" Nielsen, Tonni's mentor during his early days working at W.Ø. Larsen.

Those aforementioned features, coupled with elegant proportions and beautiful shaping, have come to define Tonni Nielsen's style and are readily evident in this piece. In silhouette, this offering calls to mind traditional gourd Calabashes, but instead of a removable meerschaum cap, the Danish carver has topped the bowl with an oak accent, marking the first time we've seen Nielsen incorporate the material in his work. The medium displays some fascinating grain of its own, pairing well with the stummel's rich mahogany stain and doesn't distract from the vivid flame grain that dances around the bowl. It's a stunning piece in many aspects, showcasing Tonni's five decades of pipe making experience and creative ability to re-imagine classic shapes.