Vauen 3743 Smooth Hawkbill w/ Brass Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked, 9mm

Description

Vauen stems from Germany’s oldest tobacco pipe manufacturing company, tracing its roots back to the founding partnership of Karl Ellenberger and Carl August Ziener in Nuremberg, 1848. Out of the Ellenberger-Ziener partnership soon came the Vauen make itself, which grew to become Germany’s largest and most enduring pipe brand – a title that it continues to hold to this day.  

Vauen’s shape 3743 is a very curious one, and not simply because—as far as I can tell—it’s not been in Vauen’s catalog for a long time. I’ve mentioned before that many of Vauen’s designs show a clear Danish influence, but in those instances the Danes in question were of the later generations of artisans in the second half of the 20th century, such as Former, Jens Tao Nielsen, S. Bang, or Nanna Ivarsson. What strikes me about the 3743, on the other hand, is its affinity with some of the earliest pipe makers in post-war Denmark. While somewhat stouter in proportions (in part to allow for a 9mm filter), a shape like this one reminds of, say, Pibe-Dan (later Pipe Dan), and of the designs of figures such as Gert Holbek and Ib Loran. As someone who enjoys Holbek’s, Loran’s, and Vauen’s pipes, I was both surprised and quite pleased when this one graced my desk. As to what to categorize it as for easy searches, I suppose “hawkbill” will do the trick.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. As with most Vauen pipes, it is chambered to allow for 9mm filters, whether of the activated charcoal, meerschaum, or balsa variety. It should also accommodate an adapter (not included) if unfiltered use is preferred.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.48″ / 37.59mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g