Ben Wade (Preben Holm) Free-Hand Matt Large Smooth Freehand (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.

That the term “freehand” is used today to refer to distinctly freeform (and, typically, finely grained) pipes, rather than any pipe shaped without relying on a lathe, is in no small part thanks to figures like Preben Holm. Holm was a pioneer both in technique and in aesthetic philosophy, and his talents for realizing such in tandem would irrevocably bring the two together as far as modern parlance is concerned. Having such an impact on pipe culture is no small achievement, though when looking at Holm’s works—such as this matte-finished, straight grained, plateau-topped example—understanding it becomes a lot easier.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and minor oxidation on the mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 1.06 / 26.92mm

Bowl Depth: 1.96″ / 49.78mm

Weight: 2.7oz / 78g