Preben Holm Fancy Sandblasted Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Though he would tragically pass away at the age of 42, Preben Holm was one of the pioneering figures in the ‘Danish design’ movement in 20th century pipe-making – a movement that still dominates the high-grade pipe scene. By hand-shaping his pipes on a belt sander, Holm was able to make the most of the patterns of grain hidden within briar, creating spectacular works of pipe art that looked just as good as they smoked. Owing to Holm’s untimely passing, his pipes are even more highly sought after than they were during his lifetime.

As I’ve mentioned in previous listings, one underappreciated hallmark of Preben Holm’s approach to freehands was his mixed finishes. When “chasing the grain,” i.e., following the natural patterns of the briar during shaping, as Holm did, one will often find that there are parts of the stummel that would look best if left smooth polished, and other parts that would look best sandblasted. This particular Preben Holm shows off a fascination application of this technique, with patches of sandblasting snaking around the pipe, weaving its way through the curls and furrows of the stummel.

The condition is great. Some minor finish fading, perhaps.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 1.01 / 25.65mm

Bowl Depth: 1.95″ / 49.53mm

Weight: 2.4oz / 70g