Ben Wade (Preben Holm) Danish Hand Model 100 Smooth Freehand Sitter (Unsmoked Estate)

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. Even Herman Lane, owner of Lane Ltd. and Charatan during the 1960s and 1970s, was so impressed by Holm that he contracted the Danish artisan to carve pipes under his newly-acquired Ben Wade make, despite simultaneously stewarding the meteoric rise of English-made freehand pipes through Charatan). Today, Holm’s pipes remain highly sought-after, perhaps even more so than when he was still alive, to the extent that even the historic—and, originally, very English—Ben Wade name is difficult to separate from Holm’s work.

If I have it right, the Hand Model was originally a Ben Wade line made by Charatan, after Herman Lane had purchased the latter to serve as a Charatan sub-brand. The Danish Hand Model, on the other hand, was something else entirely. It was one of the many lines made for Lane by Preben Holm, with each representing Holm’s distinctly Danish approach to pipe design, and also appears to have been used as an umbrella designation for Holm’s contribution to the Ben Wade make.

This one is essentially a classic freehand sitter in Holm’s signature “Danish Fancy” style, complete with excellent grain, live plateau burl at both its rim and shank end, and an ornate, “heat sink” style mouthpiece (though its unique cut will be purely ornamental). Grade-wise, it looks to be a “100,” which was the first rung on the ladder for pipes within the Danish Hand Model series, though in this instance I can’t help but feel it should have been higher. I’ll price it as a “100” grade in any case.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

Details:

Length: 6.39″ / 162.3mm

Chamber Width: 0.87″ / 22.09mm

Chamber Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Bowl Height: 2.43″ / 61.72mm

Weight: 2.4oz / 68g