Soren Hand-Carved Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Søren Refbjerg Rasmussen was one of the central figures in the post-war Danish pipe-making movement. Rasmussen worked at Copenhagen’s W.O. Larsen workshop, ultimately succeeding Hans “Former” Nielsen as its foreman, and was also the founder of the Søren workshop, which produced freehand pipes during the 1970s freehand boom. After the Søren workshop was closed, Rasmussen continued to carve pipes, doing so under his middle name, Refbjerg.

I’ve handled many freehand pipes in my time. Some are floral, others are like tree branches. This one, on the other hand, looks like something straight out of an MC Escher painting. There are ledges upon ledges, as if the briar is folding outward upon itself over and over. The grain is excellent too, but the shaping is just extraordinary.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and a couple of light handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.93 / 23.62mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g