Vauen Harlekin 546 Sandblasted Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe, German Estates, 9mm

Description

Vauen stems from Germany’s oldest tobacco pipe manufacturing company, tracing its roots back to the founding partnership of Karl Ellenberger and Carl August Ziener in Nuremberg, 1848. Out of the Ellenberger-Ziener partnership soon came the Vauen make itself, which grew to become Germany’s largest and most enduring pipe brand—a title that it continues to hold to this day.

The Harlekin is a fairly recent addition to Vauen’s catalog, and a strikingly colorful one at that. The vibrant aesthetic is intentional, as the pipe was originally created as a “Summer pipe”—i.e., one that reflected the beauty and revelry associated with the season. When the Harlekin debuted, it was stated by Vauen to be a limited release, presumably for the Summer period (during 2024, if memory serves), and from the looks of it, it has been discontinued. Whether it is due to be reissued is not something I know, though I do know that I enjoy it very much. In a style not entirely dissimilar from the Savinelli Fantasia, each Harlekin is fitted with a marbled, acrylic mouthpiece reminiscent of the ostentatious garb that is its namesake (the harlequins of the commedia dell’arte). In this instance, that mouthpiece is paired with a wonderfully rich, reddish-brown sandblast finish, with the bowl’s grain brought into a striking relief.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening. This pipe is chambered to allow for the use of 9mm filters if desired.

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.38″ / 35.05mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g