Bonsai Pipes Sandblasted Knubbel Rhodesian w/ Stabilized Platan Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

A lot has been going on in the Central European artisan scene recently. Over the last decade, a great number of solo (and, on occasion, duo) pipe makers have emerged and shown that the region is still able to hold its own against the likes of Denmark and the United States. Germany in particular continues to produce world-class carvers, which is less surprising when you realize that Germany has one of the most active and dedicated pipe communities in the world. Tobias Höse, the man behind Bonsai Pipes, is one of those carvers. Inspired by the likes of Dirk Heinemann (with whom he has also collaborated) and Kelvin Pohler and Thorsten Klemme of CO-Pipes, Höse took up pipe making in 2016 and, in the years since, has become one of Germany’s most recognizable artisans. In fact, his pipes have become so popular that, in 2022, he was invited by HU Tobacco to help create a blend in celebration of his pipe making prowess: Nebari, named after the surface root structure of the bonsai tree. As for why Höse chose “Bonsai Pipes” as a moniker, this can be traced to his other passion in life, horticulture. Höse cultivates bonsai trees for much the same reason he smokes and makes pipes: because they are slow, careful, and contemplative endeavors, providing a much-needed respite from the breakneck pace of the modern world.

Translating to the English “nubble,” the Knubbel is one of Tobias Höse’s signature shapes. A uniquely short and stout rendition of the Rhodesian, it is right at home within Höse’s portfolio and personality. After all, Höse is someone who spends his time carefully cultivating miniature trees, so the presence of stubbier designs in his output should not be surprising. The Knubbel itself has taken off as a real fan favorite when it comes to Bonsai pipes, to the extent that Höse has even collaborated with Dirk Heinemann on a few variations the past (Heinemann, of course, has his own signature stubby, the Dora). This one is entirely Höse’s work, staying true to the classic Knubbel in form and finish. Dressed in a perfectly executed, dark, ring grain sandblast, the pipe is fitted with a hand-cut cumberland stem and accented with a ferrule cut from a curious, almost hypnotic material—stabilized platan wood.

Details:

Length: 5.0″ / 127mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.40″ / 35.56mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 76g