Tonni Nielsen (c.1978-82) Smooth Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

A living legend in Danish pipe making, Tonni Nielsen first began his career at the age of 16, at the historic W.O. Larsen workshop. Here he apprenticed under Hans “Former” Nielsen and Teddy Knudsen, and within a few years, he was already carving Larsen’s high-grade Straight Grain and Bird’s-Eyes pipes. In fact, during his time with W.O. Larsen, Tonni Nielsen was responsible for many of its highest-grade pipes, i.e., those bearing the Straight Grain, Birds Eyes, and near-mythical “Pearl” designations. After going solo and continuing his successes, Nielsen emigrated to Kentucky, in the United States, where he currently resides.

If I have it right, this particular Tonni Nielsen pipe will have been made around the end of the 1970s to the early 1980s, during his initial, meteoric rise as an independent pipe maker. Nielsen was born in 1953 and by 1969, he’d joined W.O. Larsen, where he soon rose through the ranks, becoming one of its premier pipe carvers. It was not until around 1978, however, that the first “Tonni Nielsen” pipes made their way into the world (though plenty of superb Tonni-made W.O. Larsen pipes were undoubtedly crafted in the years prior). At this time, Tonni was still living in Denmark, and stamped his pipes as such.

It’s always nice to come across pipes like this. You’re essentially holding in your hands something that played a decisive role in the history of pipes, the same way you would with any of the earlier works of what are now legendary individuals and companies. That’s not to say this was Tonni’s first rodeo, but such pipes are what proved to the world that his mastery of the art could stand on its own two feet, i.e., without having to lean on the W.O. Larsen name. And funnily enough, now, when people look back at the high-grades from the W.O. Larsen shop, speculation as to whether one pipe or another was made by Tonni adds a certain additional worth to it (just as it does when speculation concerns other notable W.O. Larsen alumni, like Teddy, or Jess).

The design of the pipe is very classical, as is the preference of so many of the Danish masters, taking the form of a slightly plump, saddle brandy, dressed in a simple, brown finish. This one looks to have been carved cross-cut, with the breadth of the bowl serving as a screen for the briar to project its natural bird’s-eye patterning.

The condition is very good. Some darkening and minor scratches on the rim, and slight finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.11mm

Bowl Depth: 1.60″ / 40.64mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g