Being inspired by a TV program on the life and works of the renowned Anne Julie, the immensely talented Peter Heding decided to follow a different path from his training as a molecular biologist and became a pipe maker in 2003. In short order he has reached the upper echelon of Danish pipe makers, joining the ranks of Tom Eltang, Former & Tonni Nielsen, Per Hansen & Ulf Noltensmeier to name a few.
Even though I’ve greatly admired much of his work, for some reason I’ve neglected to add one of his superb pipes to my collection. That oversight has finally been remedied in spades when I obtained this magnificent Diamond grade earlier this week.
I’m not sure if this shape would be considered an elephant’s foot or a shield since it looks too square and the sides not rounded enough to be one of his “Duck’s Foot” pipes. Whatever it is, it’s absolutely stunning! I almost hated to light it up and risk dulling that marvelous finish. The grain on this baby is spectacular and Peter’s warm contrast staining shows it off perfectly. To me, the juxtaposition between straight grained faces on the sides and birdseye on the front and back of the bowl are one of the most stunning features of this piece.
Fit and finish are uniformly excellent with the drilling being perfectly centered. The boxwood accent shows just enough grain to add interest and identify it as wood without being garish or detracting from the briar. The size is just right with a length of just under 5 inches and a bowl height of 2 ¾ inches. The 50g weight is perfectly balanced for effortless clenching with an extremely comfortable bit.
The pipe arrived Monday so I’ve only smoked it a few times but all indications point to it being a fabulous smoker. Even though the stem is not as open as some, airflow is still excellent which keeps the pipe lit even when sitting for prolonged periods. I have a very similarly shaped and sized Former elephant's foot and this pipe definitely required fewer relights with the same tobacco.
The Diamond, being Peter’s highest grade, is designated by a small cubic zirconia mounted on the back of the shank above the stamping. It’s a neat touch that Ser Jacopo does on the stem with their dalla Gemma series but this is the only pipe I’ve seen with the stone mounted in the wood.
This pipe came as something of a consolation after missing the final bid and losing a mint condition Kent Rasmussen Two Star pictured below that Chance Whittamore listed on eBay. Though the Kent was lovely and would have made a great addition, I think this gem is even more stunning so my disappointment was very short lived.
The One That Got Away
The One That Didn't :D
Even though I’ve greatly admired much of his work, for some reason I’ve neglected to add one of his superb pipes to my collection. That oversight has finally been remedied in spades when I obtained this magnificent Diamond grade earlier this week.
I’m not sure if this shape would be considered an elephant’s foot or a shield since it looks too square and the sides not rounded enough to be one of his “Duck’s Foot” pipes. Whatever it is, it’s absolutely stunning! I almost hated to light it up and risk dulling that marvelous finish. The grain on this baby is spectacular and Peter’s warm contrast staining shows it off perfectly. To me, the juxtaposition between straight grained faces on the sides and birdseye on the front and back of the bowl are one of the most stunning features of this piece.
Fit and finish are uniformly excellent with the drilling being perfectly centered. The boxwood accent shows just enough grain to add interest and identify it as wood without being garish or detracting from the briar. The size is just right with a length of just under 5 inches and a bowl height of 2 ¾ inches. The 50g weight is perfectly balanced for effortless clenching with an extremely comfortable bit.
The pipe arrived Monday so I’ve only smoked it a few times but all indications point to it being a fabulous smoker. Even though the stem is not as open as some, airflow is still excellent which keeps the pipe lit even when sitting for prolonged periods. I have a very similarly shaped and sized Former elephant's foot and this pipe definitely required fewer relights with the same tobacco.
The Diamond, being Peter’s highest grade, is designated by a small cubic zirconia mounted on the back of the shank above the stamping. It’s a neat touch that Ser Jacopo does on the stem with their dalla Gemma series but this is the only pipe I’ve seen with the stone mounted in the wood.
This pipe came as something of a consolation after missing the final bid and losing a mint condition Kent Rasmussen Two Star pictured below that Chance Whittamore listed on eBay. Though the Kent was lovely and would have made a great addition, I think this gem is even more stunning so my disappointment was very short lived.
The One That Got Away
The One That Didn't :D
