Bjarne Handmade Smooth Panel Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Bjarne Nielsen was one of the towering figures of Danish pipe-making until his passing in 2008. As the founder of Bjarne, Nielsen employed talented pipe-makers from Denmark to produce distinctly Danish pipes and sold them to a devoted international audience. Among those in his employ were figures such as Mogens Johansen (also known as Johs), Ph. Vigen, Ole Bandholm and Tonni Nielsen. Though Bjarne pipes are no longer manufactured, they are still in good demand by those who enjoy well-made pipes in the tradition of Danish design.

Even for a Danish pipe, this Bjarne is a very unique design. Viewed from the side, it looks like what could be considered a very stout bent brandy. But, as so happens with Danish pipes, a closer inspection reveals that there’s more to it than first meets the eye. Most obviously is the fact that the bowl is paneled, or at least flattened in the manner of that of a blowfish. The shank is also paneled, bringing the overall shape close to something like a foursquare. And then there’s the angle and height of the shank and stem, which end up just about level with the rim of the bowl à la a hawkbill. It’s a strange combination, but it doesn’t ever cross a line into being unpalatably so. Of course, it helps that the pipe has some remarkable flame grain—patterns that the paneling of the design certainly work to emphasize.

The condition is great. Some slight inner rim darkening, nothing major.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g