Preben Holm Ben Wades

[irishearl]

Rummaging around in a drawer I re-discovered a very large Danish Ben Wade freehand bowl I bought near on to 30 years ago in a second-hand store. Going to have to get another stem and put it to use again. were all BW freehands from the 70's or so Preben Holm?

 

[Chasing Embers]

If stamped Preben Holm they were, if not, between the '60s and '80s, they came from a carver in his workshop.

 

[fluffie666]

I am lead to believe that Ben Wades of the Preben Holm era were not made by him but the factory was his at that time. I agree with Chasing on this. Preben Holm pipes, like the Delight, for example, I don't believe they were made by him either. If any of them were made by Preben Holm, I would imagine it difficult to tell which were carved by him and which were carved by another pipe maker in his factory. I was told by a high grade Preben Holm collector that the only pipes Preben Holm, without a doubt did carve, are the Preben Holm Private Collection pipes. Take this with a grain of salt because I am no expert. There's some food for thought though.

 

[dmcmtk]

I was told by a high grade Preben Holm collector that the only pipes Preben Holm, without a doubt did carve, are the Preben Holm Private Collection pipes.

These, and the not often seen pipes he made very early in his career. Three early examples, and commentary, can be seen here,
http://pipesmokerunlimited.com/showthread.php?8017-My-Dog-Ate-It-and-Other-Early-Prebem-Holm-Pipes&highlight=preben+holm

 

[fluffie666]

$16.50!? Blasphemy! I am on the hunt for anything Preben Holm carved. The stars really have to be in my favor on the day it happens. But when it does, if it happens for $16.50, I'm going to shed a tear. $16.50 for an official Preben Holm piece is as tragic as the man himself.

 

[irishearl]

Thanks for the info. Found the stem so now I'm raring to get that big bad boy fired up after all these years. :lol:

 

[fluffie666]

I have two heroes in life. Jimi Hendrix and Preben Holm. You're a lucky man. Getting a pipe like that for that price is like getting Hendrix's guitar for a few bucks.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Said he got it thirty years ago. Got a Ben Wade back in the early '90s for $30.

 

[kenbarnes]

I have one 'original' Ben Wade Danish on ebay at the moment that seems to me to be one of those from the mid 70s. I think it was made before the '100' series, 'Walnut' series etc. What do the specialists reckon?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262788480372?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

 

[Chasing Embers]

Very nice! Similar design to a II S I have.
Your Wade

My II S

 

[rigmedic1]

I bought this Ben Wade in the mid eighties for $45.00. Last time I smoked it was on my 50th birthday. It is a huge, heavy pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yep, Danish Wades are monsters!

 

[fluffie666]

Those are all some very nice looking specimens. Truly amazing. The esthetics are just so organic. When I look at a quality freehand from that period, it reminds me of looking at the stars or a sunset. Never ending beauty in those pipes. The more you look at them, the more details you find.
I recently sold these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ben-Wade-Freehand-Estate-Pipes-Lot-of-3-/112197499937?hash=item1a1f7dfc21%3Ag%3AE78AAOSwx2dYH3yA&nma=true&si=C6GuOqBOU9HFlQ9SPbQkuQeYcB8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
...and this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estate-Pipe-Ben-Wade-Golden-Walnut-/112227086954?hash=item1a2141726a%3Ag%3AzvoAAOSwux5YRIk3&nma=true&si=C6GuOqBOU9HFlQ9SPbQkuQeYcB8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
...and a few more. I'm pretty sure none of them were made by Preben Holm personally but, the BW Golden Walnut has me wondering. Most BW freehands don't go over $50 in estate condition (not ready to smoke). The Golden Walnut pipes that go up are getting over $80. I'm wondering why.

 

[dmcmtk]

fluffie, the group of three shows very well the different finishes, L-R Golden Walnut with a contrast stain, the Danish Hand Model 200 (the highest grade of those three) a natural, which I think was the finish on all the Danish Hand Model pipes, and the Martinique with a very light stain. I think what Preben Holm and Poul Winslow were most responsible for was an aesthetic whose many different details can be seen across the Danish Ben Wade pipes. I've always liked the single design element turning on the 200 stem. I have a couple of Golden Walnuts with that stem.

 

[fluffie666]

dmcmtk, I agree with you on those stems. On the 200, it adds a bit more modern look to the pipe. I had another Hand Model with the same type of stem. The single design flows with the pipe very well. I'm sure they make those GW's you have look spectacular.

 

[irishearl]

dmcmtk, interesting to see the 3 different finishes as I'm not that familiar with Ben Wade free-hands. The 1 I have is the Golden Walnut and would have to say I prefer that finish over the other 2. I do have 1 other BW danish hand-made, though it's not a free-hand. It is a Majestic.