Ben Wade (Preben Holm) Deluxe Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

While Ben Wade was a historic British pipe brand, for a time during the 1970s, production of Ben Wade pipes was contracted out to one of Danish pipe-making’s superstars: Preben Holm. Though he would tragically pass away at the age of 42, 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.

Just as one would expect from a pipe from Preben Holm’s workshop, this particular piece is large, naturalistic, yet marked by beautiful straight grain. It is unsurprising that Holm chose a light, blonde stain for this one, as much of the bowl is covered in the kind of “angel hair” grain that artisans, in Holm’s footsteps, continue to “chase.”

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening and a few light scratches on the bowl.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.97 / 24.63mm

Bowl Depth: 1.77″ / 44.95mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g