S Bang 9 Kobenhavn Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Originally founded in 1968 by Svend Bang, a former store manager at Denmark’s legendary W.Ø. Larsen, S. Bang would go on to become a legend in its own right, one that would rival even Larsen in fame and acclaim. While Svend himself was not a pipe-maker, he was able to enlist some of the most talented pipe-makers in Denmark to create the S. Bang pipes. In the early days, this included figures such as Ph. Vigen, but it is two makers in particular who would become synonymous with the S. Bang name: Per Hansen and Ulf Noltensmeier. Per and Ulf joined the S. Bang workshop in the early 1970s, and in 1984, when Svend Bang himself retired, Per and Ulf formally took over S. Bang. Per and Ulf’s creations were as admired and coveted as their Danish contemporaries, such as Jess Chonowitsch, Tom Eltang, and Hans ‘Former’ Nielsen. Per and Ulf retired and dissolved S. Bang in 2019, much to the disappointment of pipe smokers and collectors across the world. 

While Danish pipe design is often associated with wild, unconventional shapes, its masters have never completely dissociated themselves from tradition. After all, traditions tend to exist for a good reason. The billiard shape is one such tradition, and it is one that has been upheld by Danish masters from Sixten Ivarsson, to Former, Jess Chonowitsch, Tom Eltang, and Mike Sebastian Bay. So, it should come as little surprise that Per and Ulf made plenty of billiards during their time as the legendary (post-1984) duo behind S. Bang. On the other hand, this is hardly an ordinary billiard. Its grain patterns are of expertly uniform, tight straight grain surrounding its bowl and running up its shank, with a ring of bird’s-eyes on its ring and a dense pool of the same on its underside. It is also perfectly lightweight, coming in at around just 36 grams, which speaks both to the quality of the wood and the judgement of the craftsman.

The condition is excellent. There’s a small amount of inner rim darkening, but not enough to be very noticeable. Having come to us via our consignment program, I am happy to report that this pipe was well cared for by its single, previous owner.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.56″ / 39.62mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g