Aalborg (Nording) Tinder Box Freehand XL Partially Rusticated Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates, 9mm

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.

Erik Nording has, for many decades, had a close relationship with historic American tobacconist The Tinder Box. In 1978, for example, Nording was one of the companies that provided limited edition pipes for the 50th Anniversary of The Tinder Box, sharing that honor with the likes of Dunhill, Charatan, Caminetto, Comoy’s, and GBD. Nording also, for a time produced a series of freehand pipes made under the Aalborg name, which were exclusively sold through The Tinder Box.

This particular pipe is an example of Nording’s Tinder Box exclusive Aalborg series, though it’s a little different to the majority of pipes produced under that name. The majority of Aalborg pipes were, in Erik Nording’s signature style, freehands of the Danish Fancy variety, though some, like this one, did employ other, rather Danish, aesthetic conventions. This one is a large and nicely plump Danish brandy, for instance, with a two-tone, partially rusticated finish and a tortoiseshell acrylic mouthpiece. It’s a little similar to some of the Hunting Pipes Erik has made over the years, so there may well have been some overlap in design inspirations there.

The condition is very good. Some minor rim darkening. This pipe is chambered to accommodate 9mm filters if desired.

Details:

Length: 6.6″ / 167.6mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.79″ / 45.46mm

Weight: 2.0oz / 58g