Preben Holm Private Collection A Smooth Freehand Sitter 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 also happened to be exceptional smokers. Holm’s work was so popular, in fact, that he not only put out pipes under numerous makes (such as Wengholt, Monte Verdi, Rungsted), but was also contracted by pipe shops and companies around the world to make pipes for them. Dunhill had Holm produce pipes for the Harcourt make, and Lane Ltd.’s Charatan had him make Ben Wade pipes, at a time when Charatan itself was already at the pinnacle of its freehand output. All of this was achieved in the span of around 25 years, before Holm’s untimely passing, and his pipes remain firm favorites among casual pipe smokers and die-hard collectors to this day.

Preben Holm’s workshop made many different series and ranges of pipes, with these pipes being in various styles and finishes. Some of these pipes were made by Holm himself, but many were also made by his highly skilled apprentices, such as Poul Winslow. Identifying pipes made by Holm himself is not an easy task, but there are pipes that can be identified with absolute certainly as being Holm’s own work. For his mature period (1970s-1980s), we know that only Holm made his highest-grade pipes, and we know that the 2% of these pipes qualified to be part of Holm’s special “Private Collection” series.

In the case of this one, it’s an unsurprisingly beautiful, classic freehand in the vein of the Danish Fancy, though with a slight Oom Paul, or even cavalier, aesthetic, owing to its tall, sitting figure and offset bowl. One thing that always strikes about Holm’s pipes is not just the craftsmanship that went into shaping the bowl, but the attention to detail with his mouthpieces as well, such as with this one’s spiraling form, which continues that same movement as it progresses up the shank.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening and residual stem oxidation.

Details:

Length: 5.9″ / 149.8mm

Bowl Width: 1.05 / 26.67mm

Bowl Depth: 1.67″ / 42.41mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 74g