Karl Erik Ekstravagant A Freehand Horn Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Karl Erik was a Danish pipe-maker, and one of the originators of the Danish style of pipe-making that swept the world in the 20th century. He was a prolific carver and many who apprenticed in his workshop went on to become iconic pipe-makers in their own right, such as Peder Jeppesen and Bent Nielsen (Benner). Erik was also what might be called a pipe-maker’s pipe-maker, one admired not only by Danish pipe enthusiasts, but by other legends in his contemporary scene – so much so that, when Erik sadly passed in 2004, Tom Eltang bought Erik’s lathe to use in his own workshop.

As was typically the case in Danish workshops, Karl Erik had several apprentices working with him on Karl Erik pipes, including the above mentioned Nielsen and Jeppesen. But, as we see with Preben Holm pipes, for example, there were certain pipes that were solely Erik’s work: the Extravagant series. Like Holm’s Private Collection and Nobel Prize series, the Ekstravagant series was the highest of Karl Erik’s high-grade pipes. As the name implies, these pipes were also some of the most adventurous pipes to come out of Erik’s workshop, requiring a master carver to pull off their difficult and daring designs. This Ekstravagant is no exception. It could be called a “horn hybrid sitter,” but I’m not sure that would do it justice. The same goes for “freehand”; it certainly is, but it’s also much more than that. The positioning of the plateau on the pipe’s base, as well as the way the briar has been worked so that its straight grain looks almost like it is draped down over the bowl, work to create something that looks almost animal in nature – a large one, too.

This Karl Erik is also completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. It also comes with its original presentation case and sales brochure.

 

Details:

Length: 7.8″ / 198.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm

Weight: 3.3oz / 96g