S Bang Kobenhavn 9 Apple Anse Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Originally founded in 1968 by Svend Bang, a former store manager at Denmark’s legendary W.Ø. Larsen, S. Bang would go on to become a legend in its own right, one that would rival even Larsen in fame and acclaim. While Svend himself was not a pipe-maker, he was able to enlist some of the most talented pipe-makers in Denmark to create the S. Bang pipes. In the early days, this included figures such as Ph. Vigen, but it is two makers in particular who would become synonymous with the S. Bang name: Per Hansen and Ulf Noltensmeier. Per and Ulf joined the S. Bang workshop in the early 1970s, and in 1984, when Svend Bang himself retired, Per and Ulf formally took over S. Bang. Per and Ulf’s creations were as admired and coveted as their Danish contemporaries, such as Jess Chonowitsch, Tom Eltang, and Hans ‘Former’ Nielsen. Per and Ulf retired and dissolved S. Bang in 2019, much to the disappointment of pipe smokers and collectors across the world. 

I could swear that there’s a name for this shape in the artisan pipe-making community, but I can’t for the life of me remember it. So, instead, I’ll call it an apple-Anse, as it reminds me of a kind of hybrid of a quarter-bent apple and the plump-canted figure of the Devil Anse. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that it’s a beautiful pipe. The stummel is positively alive with swirling flame grain patterns, dressed in a golden contrast stain that gives them the appearance of a tiger’s stripes.

The condition is excellent. There’s a small spot of char at the very front of the pipe’s rounded rim, but it’s only noticeable if you really go looking for it. I wouldn’t call it a major issue by any stretch. The pipe also comes with its original leather sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5″ / 127.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.59″ / 40.38mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g