Nording A Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Nørding was founded by Erik Nørding in the 1960s, and is one of the oldest remaining companies to come out of the Scandinavian pipe-making renaissance that began in the mid-20th century. Now in his 80s, Erik Nørding is one of the most experienced and skilled pipe-makers in the world, and over the decades he has also been a teacher of other Danish masters, such as Poul Ilsted, Svend Axel Celius, Jens Tao Nielsen, Peder Jeppesen, and Søren Erik Andersen.

If I had to guess, I’d say this is one of Erik Nording’s earlier pieces, likely from the late 1960s, shortly after the dissolution of the SON (Skovbo og Nording) make. While still a freehand like Nording’s workshop currently produces, it is much more freeform, including in the cut of its stem. Of course, while it may be early, it is by no means amateur. The bowl is decked with straight grain, while the shank has a wonderfully fluid character, as if the briar was merely “bent” to Nording’s whim.

The condition is good. Some scratches on the bowl and some rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 1.12 / 28.44mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g