Preben Holm Private Collection, Extra Large Smooth 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.

Preben Holm’s workshop made many different series and ranges of pipes, with these pipes being in various styles and finishes. Some of these pipes were made by Holm himself, but many were also made by his highly skilled apprentices, such as Poul Winslow. Identifying pipes made by Holm himself is not an easy task, but there are pipes that can be identified with absolute certainly as being Preben Holm pipes was made by Preben Holm’s hands – and only Preben Holm’s hands. For his mature period (1970s-1980s), we know that his highest-grade pipes were made by himself, and we know that the series names for these highest-grade pipes were the “Nobel Prize” and the “Private Collection” (the latter being a tradition that Holm’s protege, Winslow, would carry on for his own highest-grade pipes). This particular Preben Holm is the latter, a Private Collection 101 grade. It combines a masterful attention to briar grain in its shaping, allowing for flame grain patterns to be carefully followed by the lines traced in the bowl’s construction, with an ebonite ferrule that carries on the particular shaping of the bowl and shank, and a similarly twisted and knotted ebonite stem. On a last note, this pipe is very large, with a pretty wide and deep bowl and an overall length of almost 8 inches.

The condition is great. There’s some minor inner rim darkening and some residual oxidation on the stem, but the pipe has been well looked after. This pipe came to us via our consignment program, along with a Preben Holm box and Private Collection sleeve. The box is quite worn, but nevertheless still holds itself together.

 

Details:

Length: 7.8″ / 198.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.94 / 23.87mm

Bowl Depth: 1.8″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 3.2oz / 92g