Bonsai Pipes Sandblasted Apple w/ Olivewood Handmade Briar Pipe, New

A lot has been going on in the Central European artisan scene recently. Over the last decade, a great number of solo (and, on occasion, duo) pipe makers have emerged and shown that the region is still able to hold its own against the likes of Denmark and the United States. Germany in particular continues to produce world-class carvers, which is less surprising when you realize that Germany has one of the most active and dedicated pipe communities in the world. Tobias Höse, the man behind Bonsai Pipes, is one of those carvers. Inspired by the likes of Dirk Heinemann (with whom he has also collaborated) and Kelvin Pohler and Thorsten Klemme of CO-Pipes, Höse took up pipe making in 2016 and, in the years since, has become one of Germany’s most recognizable artisans. In fact, his pipes have become so popular that, in 2022, he was invited by HU Tobacco to help create a blend in celebration of his pipe making prowess: Nebari, named after the surface root structure of the bonsai tree. As for why Höse chose “Bonsai Pipes” as a moniker, this can be traced to his other passion in life, horticulture. Höse cultivates bonsai trees for much the same reason he smokes and makes pipes: because they are slow, careful, and contemplative endeavors, providing a much-needed respite from the breakneck pace of the modern world. As far as national schools go, Danish and German pipe makers are often quite different, but one finds a firm agreement between them regarding the merits of a good apple. This may well be because, despite originating in Denmark, the modern apple suits German pipe making quite perfectly. It is broad, plump, and doesn’t look out of place on the end of a thick shank—which, for a pipe maker in Germany, is often essential. This one from Tobias Höse possesses all the hallmarks of the apples that have passed from Former and Lars Ivarsson, to Karlheinz Joura and Holmer Knudsen, while adding extra touches more in keeping with the new German style, especially its much expanded color palette.   Details: Length: 6.0″ / 152.4mm Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm Bowl Depth: 1.34″ / 34.03mm Weight: 1.9oz / 54g