Bjarne XL Smooth Freehand Cavalier Sitter Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

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.

Given the explosion in freehand pipe-making in the 1970s, it’s only natural that carvers would begin to raise the stakes with their designs, creating ever-more beautiful and distinct works to compete in an increasingly crowded market. This Bjarne shows a number of distinct adaptations within the “Danish fancy” movement. For one, it has a foot-like base that I’m fairly certain is ebonite, and which further assists the pipe in sitting comfortably on its own accord; it also leans a little closer toward traditional shapes, though only to show its carver’s prowess even further. After all, one might well call this a freehand cavalier, one that shows off plenty of flame grain underneath its contrast stain.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 7″ / 177.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.96 / 24.38mm

Bowl Depth: 1.36″ / 34.54mm

Weight: 2.7oz / 78g