Bjarne Large Smooth Freehand 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.

I really like this Bjarne. It is a very Danish freehand, from its plateaux rim and shank end, to its ornate, beaded stem, to its generally rugged aesthetic, but it also reminds me quite a bit of the very English style of the Charatan freehands. Notably, the way the bowl begins to narrow toward its base, before furling up again at the transition to the shank, is quite reminiscent of the old “cup and saucer” shapes Charatan pioneered. The result is a very interesting synthesis—something to contemplate while enjoying the fruits of the pipe’s exceedingly large chamber.

The condition is good. Some minor rim darkening and a few small scratches on the bowl. Nothing major.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.96 / 24.38mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 76g