Bonsai Pipes Sandblasted Rhodesian Handmade Briar Pipe, 9mm, 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.

I’m not sure if Lars Ivarsson ever dabbled in Rhodesians, but if he did, I imagine they’d probably feature a similar shaping to this one, from Tobias Höse’s Bonsai Pipes. Just as Lars did for the acorn shapes popularized by his father, Sixten Ivarsson, Höse has taken the classical Rhodesian and added both a sweeping, highly unorthodox curvature and a significant amount of heft. It strikes just the right balance between supple and stout, a juxtaposition mirrored in Höse’s choice of a subtle contrast sandblast finish and vermillion ebonite stem.

This pipe is chambered to allow for the use of 9mm filters should its owner prefer.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm

Bowl Depth: 1.33″ / 33.78mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g