Nording Hand Made Grade 20 Smooth Panel Apple Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Nørding was founded by Erik Nørding in the 1960s, and is one of the oldest remaining companies to come out of the Scandinavian pipe-making renaissance that began in the mid-20th century. Now in his 80s, Erik Nørding is one of the most experienced and skilled pipe-makers in the world, and over the decades he has also been a teacher of other Danish masters, such as Poul Ilsted, Svend Axel Celius, Jens Tao Nielsen, Peder Jeppesen, and Søren Erik Andersen.

Since leaving his early partnership with Aage Skovbo and the SON make, Erik Nording has operated an increasingly large workshop, in which apprentice and seasoned carvers have aided in the production of Nording pipes. In recent decades, as Erik Nording himself has gotten older, his involvement in the production of many Nording lines and series has decreased, but there is one series that has remained entirely Erik’s own: the Hand Made. Each pipe in the Hand Made series is made, from start to finish, by Erik Nording’s hand. As one might expect given Erik’s history and wealth of pipe making experience, these pipes are the pinnacle of the Nording company’s output. They’re also graded, beginning with 11 and ascending numerically. Where exactly this grading system ends is slightly contentious, as it appears that the pinnacle was once 20, but has recently expanded up to 30. In the American market, at least, grade 20 remains high as Hand Mades go, and even then, these pipes are exceptionally uncommon. This one is a gorgeous, distinctive piece, taking the form of an apple-opera hybrid, though one composed almost entirely of panels and facets, giving it an art deco aesthetic. This aesthetic is furthered by the pipe’s marbled inlay, which looks almost mineral in nature. The briar itself is fittingly excellent, too, with walls and walls of flame grain covering almost the entirety of the pipe’s exterior (the bird’s-eye rim being the principal exception).

The condition is great. Very minor wear to the rim and a couple of very slight scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.88 / 22.35mm

Bowl Depth: 1.83″ / 46.48mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g