Karl Erik AA Smooth Freehand Sitter Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

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.

Though he made pipes in a variety of styles, Karl Erik was, along with figures such as Erik Nording and Preben Holm, one of the pioneers of what we today call “freehand” pipes—pipes whose shaping is more coarse and naturalistic, while at the same time often having superior grain patterns to the symmetrically-inclined factory briars of the time. This Karl Erik is certainly a freehand, but it keeps one foot—if you’ll excuse the pun—in the world of tradition through a distinct similarity to the cavalier and cherrywood shapes.

The condition is very good. Some rim darkening and minor handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.88 / 22.35mm

Bowl Depth: 1.5″ / 38.10mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g