That last example was my excuse to purchase this Neerup: P. Jeppesen Handmade Ida Easy Cut Smooth Bent Apple (3) . I've reached magic number 37. Okay, so there isn't anything magical about that, but clenching a new pipe of this caliber between my teeth certainly does add to my day of celebration.
As usual, I purchased this beauty from www.smokingpipes.com, my favorite pipe retailer. It is the third Danish pipe in my collection and also the nicest. I love how the grain is accentuated by the contrast stain. The image makes it look a bit more yellow than it is in natural light. To me, it is a brown orange color for the light and darker brown-red for the contrast. It has just a touch of birdseye on the bottom and top of the shank as well as the bowl and rim. The acrylic bit complements it beautifully and looks almost like polished horn material (though I'm glad it is not derived from an animal). The chamber is generous, a good 1.47 inches deep and .82 inch diameter. The walls are thick and get thicker toward the bottom, though the pipe doesn't feel too heavy as a result. The bowl is perfectly shaped and sits comfortably in the hand. The shank enlarges as it gets further from the bowl. The shank would be almost symmetrical except that the right side is slightly wider which allows the pipe to sit at approximately a 45° angle. Because of the weight distribution, the pipe naturally rolls to this position, which is an excellent feature to prevent ash spillage. The finishing touches are so perfect and the pipe so well made, that this is the first pipe I'm hesitant to smoke. While I have paid more for my Ardor and over 2.5 times more for my Paul Becker pipe, this one is my most beautiful pipe so far. I don't have any Dunhills or any of the new American Artisan pipes, so I don't have those to compare to, but I feel that for the price, it may be next to impossible to beat a Neerup for quality craftsmanship.
Happy Puffing!
T
No comments:
Post a Comment