Karl Erik Ekstravagant Grade A Smooth Dublin w/ Silver Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Karl Erik was a Danish pipe-maker, and one of the originators of the Danish style of pipe-making that swept the world in the 20th century. He was a prolific carver and many who apprenticed in his workshop went on to become iconic pipe-makers in their own right, such as Peder Jeppesen and Bent Nielsen (Benner). Erik was also what might be called a pipe-maker’s pipe-maker, one admired not only by Danish pipe enthusiasts, but by other legends in his contemporary scene – so much so that, when Erik sadly passed in 2004, Tom Eltang bought Erik’s lathe to use in his own workshop.

What’s sometimes forgotten when it comes to the great Danish artisans is that these were often individuals who both made pipes and taught newer generations of pipe-makers through a workshop model. In other words, just like WO Larsen, Pibe Dan, or Bjarne, there was a Karl Erik workshop, a Nording workshop, a Preben Holm workshop, and so on, and Karl Erik, Nording, and Preben Holm pipes were made together by the respective master and their talented apprentices. A question naturally arises, however, of “Just who made my pipe?” And usually the only answer that can be given is “The master and their apprentices”, with no specificity as to which of these individuals put in most or all of the work. But there are exceptions. Often, these master-apprentice workshops did often use stamps or grades to indicate certain pipes that were not only high grade and exemplary of the make, but which had also been carved solely by the master from beginning to end. Preben Holm, for example, had grades such as the “Nobel Prize” and the “Private Collection,” and Karl Erik had the “Ekstravagant.” This example of the latter certainly lives up to the lofty connotations of its name. A large, broad-bowled Dublin in the Danish style, it is distinguished not only by its remarkable grain, with straight grain lining the full 360 degrees of its bowl sides and wearing a veritable halo of bird’s-eye at its rim, but also by an engraved, sterling silver collar at its shank end. During his most mature period, the Ekstravagants, as with Erik’s Ottendahl pipes (a separate, solo brand he created after realizing he didn’t much like retirement) were graded alphabetically. These began at C and culminated with grades A, AA, and AAA at the very top of this register. This one is an A grade, though one wonders if Erik wasn’t being a little modest.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating (having been made many decades ago, the bowl coating on this one is quite flaked, though this is not a cause for concern by any stretch).

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.51″ / 38.35mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g