Preben Holm Wengholt Unique Straight Grain Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Though he would tragically pass away at the age of 42, Preben Holm was one of the pioneering figures in the ‘Danish design’ movement in 20th century pipe-making – a movement that still dominates the high-grade pipe scene. By hand-shaping his pipes on a belt sander, Holm was able to make the most of the patterns of grain hidden within briar, creating spectacular works of pipe art that looked just as good as they smoked. Owing to Holm’s untimely passing, his pipes are even more highly sought after than they were during his lifetime.

There has been plenty of debate over the nature of Wengholt pipes. That they were made by, or in the workshop of, Preben Holm is agreed. Whether they were made for a separate company who owned the Wengholt brand (as in the case of Holm’s Ben Wade and Dunhill Harcourt pipes), or were a sub-brand, or even a seconds line is still contended. Having handled hundreds of Preben Holm pipes from across the numerous brands he worked under, I would have to disagree with the latter suggestions. Not only have I encountered many pipes from Preben Holm’s own brand (along with Ben Wades and Harcourts) that were inferior in quality to the many Wengholts I’ve handled, but the Wengholts themselves have typically been drastically different in style to most other Preben Holm pipes. Typically longer and slimmer, often incorporating “twisted” motifs (though in a very different way to the Spiral line Holm made for Ben Wade) and/or rather “un-Danish” varieties of rusticated finishing, Wengholt pipes display a marked difference in aesthetic that seems irreducible to making the most of second-quality briar. Wengholts are also often divided into separate lines and, furthermore, graded, which is not a common practice for sub-brands (typically, the sub-brand is both the line and the grade, with some companies having several sub-brands that each represents a different grade, such as Charatan, or Sasieni). This particular Wengholt belongs to the brand’s Unique series, which in this instance blends elements of the traditional Dublin with all manner of facets and asymmetric saddles as it progresses up the shank and stem. It has furthermore attained a Straight Grain grade, a lofty qualification used across Preben Holm’s pipes, whether those made under his name, Ben Wade, or indeed the other brands his workshop produced.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening, chamber slightly over-reamed, and a few light scratches on the bowl.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.97 / 24.63mm

Bowl Depth: 1.74″ / 44.19mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g