Bonsai Pipes Smooth Squat Apple w/ Ivorite Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

A lot has been going on in the Central European artisan scene recently. Over the last decade, a great number of solo (and, on occasion, duo) pipe makers have emerged and shown that the region is still able to hold its own against the likes of Denmark and the United States. Germany in particular continues to produce world-class carvers, which is less surprising when you realize that Germany has one of the most active and dedicated pipe communities in the world. Tobias Höse, the man behind Bonsai Pipes, is one of those carvers. Inspired by the likes of Dirk Heinemann (with whom he has also collaborated) and Kelvin Pohler and Thorsten Klemme of CO-Pipes, Höse took up pipe making in 2016 and, in the years since, has become one of Germany’s most recognizable artisans. In fact, his pipes have become so popular that, in 2022, he was invited by HU Tobacco to help create a blend in celebration of his pipe making prowess: Nebari, named after the surface root structure of the bonsai tree. As for why Höse chose “Bonsai Pipes” as a moniker, this can be traced to his other passion in life, horticulture. Höse cultivates bonsai trees for much the same reason he smokes and makes pipes: because they are slow, careful, and contemplative endeavors, providing a much-needed respite from the breakneck pace of the modern world.

As with many artisans Tobias Höse’s output tends toward sandblast finishes, with his rarer smooth finishes being reserved for stummels with singularly good grain. Here we see an example of the latter and, by extension, just what it takes to qualify as a smooth polished Bonsai. The design is what I’d consider as a “Danish apple”—more squat and plump than its traditional counterpart, but not quite flat enough to be considered a tomato. In fact, if I had been told it was made by one of the Danish greats, such as Former or Lasse Skovgaard, I wouldn’t immediately reject that notion.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.30″ / 33.02mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g