Preben Holm Hallmark H3 Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Though he would tragically pass away at the age of 42, Preben Holm was one of the pioneering figures in the ‘Danish design’ movement in 20th century pipe-making – a movement that still dominates the high-grade pipe scene. By hand-shaping his pipes on a belt sander, Holm was able to make the most of the patterns of grain hidden within briar, creating spectacular works of pipe art that looked just as good as they smoked. Owing to Holm’s untimely passing, his pipes are even more highly sought after than they were during his lifetime.

Though he always made freehands, Preben Holm made many different kinds of freehand pipes. Some were very rugged and rustic, while others, such as his Traditional or Designer series, were a little more subdued, and softer in form. Some pipes from Holm’s workshop were graded, while others were not. Grading seems to have been a practice reserved for the higher-end pipes produced there, such as the Nobel Prize, the Private Collection, and indeed the Hallmark pipe series, seen here. On each of the three series mentioned, grading was done with a system of ascending numbers (or, in the earlier pipes, sequential letters); 2000, 4000, 6000, etc., for Nobel Prize pipes; 101, 202, 404, etc., for Private Collection pipes; and H-1, H-2, H-3, etc., for Hallmark pipes. Here’s the thing: I have never seen, or heard of, a Hallmark H-5 grade. I’m therefore inclined to think that H-4 was the highest grade for the Hallmark pipes (if I’m wrong about this and you can point me to a higher-grade one, please let me know). This one is an H-3, so just one short of the highest grade. It’s a large, fluted freehand horn shape, with an unconventional addition of briar plateau on the base, rather than the rim, of the pipe.

The condition is great. There’s some very minor rim darkening, but the pipe is very well preserved. It comes with its original box and sleeve, though the box has become a little worn over time.

 

Details:

Length: 7″ / 177.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.99 / 25.14mm

Bowl Depth: 1.7″ / 43.18mm

Weight: 2.8oz / 82g