Wengholt (Preben Holm) Unique Smooth Volcano 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, and 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.

As I’ve mentioned before, it appears that one way Preben Holm used his various sub-brands, such as Wengholt, was to explore designs that did not fit stylistically with the pipes he was most known for under his main brand, Preben Holm. Sometimes this meant utilizing rather “non-Danish” finishes, such as the Italian pebble-dash, and other times it meant following different shaping conventions than those of the Danish Fancy freehand. This Wengholt, for example, is a very striking design, one whose closest comparison would be the Majestic Designer series Holm made as part of his contract with Lane Ltd.’s Ben Wade. Taking the form of a full bent, straight grain volcano, one can’t help but notice affinities with the pipes of many of Holm’s contemporaries at W.O. Larsen, or Bjarne. Then again, as I’ve also mentioned many times before, there were few pipes that Holm couldn’t, or didn’t make, despite the relative brevity of his career.

The condition is very good. Some slight rim darkening and minor scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.35″ / 34.29mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g