Ben Wade (Preben Holm) Prominence A2 Partially Sandblasted Volcano Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

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.

While they were still very much “freehands” in the vein of the Danish Fancy, Preben Holm’s Prominence series for Ben Wade was characterized by shapes that were a little closer to the other “Danish” design styles—ones that are, today, more associated with Holm’s contemporaries. A faceted volcano like this one, for example, might be seen as having a little of Poul Ilsted to it, though in reality it’s just another sign that, while he was one of the main faces of Danish freehand pipes, Holm and his apprentices could make just about any shape, and do it well, no less. This one features some of the hallmark mixed finishing of Holm’s portfolio, which has been used to full effect in capturing both craggy ring grain and patches of straight grain all at once.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening, finish fading, and slight residual oxidation on the stem.

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.94 / 23.87mm

Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g