Hans Hartmann Smooth “Flamingo” Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Owing to a sporadic career, Hans Hartmann is, today, one of a number of lesser known artisans in the history of Danish pipes. Yet those who are acquainted with the finer details of that history know of his great significance within the emergence of modern pipe making. Hartmann was one of what might be called the “first generation” of Danish pipe makers, creating novel, handcrafted designs as a solo artisan and as part of the legendary Pibe-Dan (later Pipe Dan) workshop in Copenhagen. Hartmann stepped back from making pipes in 1970, taking on a role as a sales representative for various pipe companies. Before he did, however, Hartmann was the first teacher of a man who would ultimately become one of Denmark’s pipe making superstars: Per Hansen, later of S. Bang.

Denmark’s post-war years saw an explosion of new and unconventional pipe shapes and, strangely enough, one of the most common sources of inspiration and naming for these shapes came from birds. From Sixten Ivarsson’s Peewit to Sven Knudsen’s Duck and Swan shapes, ornithology was all the rage when it came to pipe design, even without mentioning the innumerable egg renditions in later decades. To add to this roster was Hans Hartmann’s Flamingo, a compact, straight grain vase Dublin with a half saddle vulcanite stem. I myself have never seen one of these pipes up close, having to settle with knowing it solely through the 1961 Pibe-Dan catalog. So, having this land on my desk today was an especial treat.

The condition is very good. Some rim darkening, slight handling marks, and slightly faded stamping.

 

Details:

Length: 4.4″ / 111.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.46″ / 37.08mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g