Tonni Nielsen Sandblasted Apple Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

A living legend in Danish pipe-making, Tonni Nielsen first began his career at the age of 16, at the historic W.O. Larsen workshop. Here he apprenticed under Hans ‘Former’ Nielsen and Teddy Knudsen, and within a few years, he was already carving Larsen’s high-grade Straight Grain pipes. After going solo and continuing his successes, Nielsen emigrated to Kentucky, in the United States, where he currently resides.

As I’ve said before, it’s hard to go wrong with a Tonni, just as it’s hard to go wrong with any of the WO Larsen alumni. And it’s even harder to go wrong with a Tonni of much the same design that he used to make at WO Larsen, back when he was doing their Straight Grains. This is one of his Danish apple shapes: plump yet perfectly balanced, distinguished yet subtle and reserved. Instead of straight grain, this one’s a ring grain (though back in the Larsen days, the former designated both varieties), sandblasted expertly to bring the briar’s natural patterns into relief.

The condition is good. There’s some finish fading and slight rim darkening, but nothing major. The pipe comes with its original sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.44″ / 36.57mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g