Dane Craft S Partially Sandblasted Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

Based on research and previous estates we’ve had in, I think it’s safe to say that Dane Craft was a make owned by Wenhall, even if not all Dane Craft pipes bear the Wenhall stamping (as in the case of this one, though plenty of others do).

Wenhall itself was an American distribution company, one likely most famous for the pipes they had made for them by American carvers Michael Kabik and Glen Hedelson. But they also had pipes made for them by Danish carvers, most notably Karl Erik Ottendahl (of Karl Erik and, later, Ottendahl pipes). “Wenhall” make freehand pipes are all but confirmed to have been a mix of Kabik, Hedelson, and Erik, but tracing one in particular to either of them is difficult.

So, the eternal question returns: who made this very large, partially sandblasted, Dane Craft pipe? It could be argued that it was made by someone from Denmark, as the name “Dane Craft” suggests, but previous estates we’ve had in suggest otherwise. As I’ve said before, the “Dane” in “Dane Craft” could simply have meant “Danish-style” as opposed to “Danish-made.” My money would be on Kabik and/or Hedelson for this one, as it seems more their style than Karl Erik’s. Kabik was also notably very much inspired by the great Danish carvers, even learning some of his craft from the legendary Anne Julie.

The condition is fair. Some handling marks and a little rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 1.10 / 27.94mm

Bowl Depth: 2.11″ / 53.59mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g