Tom Eltang Star Grade XL Smooth Apple Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Tom Eltang made his first pipe from a Pipe-Dan hobby kit at the age of 11. At age 16, he apprenticed under the legendary Anne Julie, before moving on to work for Pipe-Dan three years later. Three years after that, Eltang began working for Stanwell. Through these formative experiences with major Danish pipe-making institutions, Eltang cultivated the skills and creativity that would see him emerge as one of the figureheads of Danish artisan pipe-making scene. In terms of influence, it is perhaps only Sixten Ivarsson who has had a comparable impact on the world of hand made pipes.

As a champion of functionalist design in pipe making, Tom Eltang’s pipes tend toward simpler, smaller, more compact creations, with a strong emphasis on practical concerns above all else. But there are notable exceptions in his portfolio, i.e., instances in which Eltang has leaned into the more grandiose and/or avant-garde aesthetics of post-war Danish pipe making. These pipes are as perfectly constructed as anything else he’s made, while also being a little more “modern,” exhibiting styles closer to the pipes of, say, S. Bang, Tonni Nielse, or Teddy Knudsen. On the other hand, when Tom Eltang does stray outside of the realms of functionalism, the results are rarely as large as this pipe. At over 6 inches in length and nearly 3 ounces in weight, this Danish apple is one of the heftiest Eltangs I’ve personally come across. It is still recognizably Eltang’s work—in fact, it could be considered a super-sized example of some of the signature designs he licensed to Stanwell, such as the late 1970s shape “84”—but its proportions are, nonetheless, unusual and quite rare.
I’m not sure precisely when this one was made, though it is certainly an older piece, as it features the “star” grade that Eltang has not used for many years (for a time, Eltang pipes were graded, in ascending order, “Moon,” “Saturn,” “Star,” “Sun,” and “Snail).” It is also almost certainly a pre-2010s make, as it features what used to be Eltang’s signature “golden contrast” finish, which he retired over a decade ago after developing an acute allergy to the oils involved in its creation.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating, and comes with its original leather sleeve. There’s some slight handling marks, though nothing major.

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.74″ / 44.19mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g