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"by Jacques Cole
The Bents
Bent pipes were very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but from 1919 to 1940, their popularity waned. They made a comeback in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and are now as popular as they were a hundred years ago. Semi-bents, with less curve, are also popular.
In Bents, you discover all the basic shapes that have been described so far. We can go back to the Billiard which gives the Full Bent. There can be a number of variations depending on size and the manufacturer, but essentially they are all Full Bents. Those with thick shanks are occasionally called Hunters. Apple-Bents are fairly common and the Bent Pot is made only by a few makers. The Bent-Prince is found in a number of collections and has acquired a character of its own and is sometimes found with an oval shank. Bent-Dublins are very attractive pipes and have become quite popular; they are to be found in most collections, sometimes with diamond-shaped shanks. A notable type of Bent which has been a favorite for over a hundred years is the Hungarian Bent, which has parallel sides (like a high pot) and is also known as the OOP Paul, named after Paul Charger, the South African leader of the Boer War, who preferred this shape. The Bent-Bulldog has acquired its own name, the Rhodesian, which is made with a round shank and can be found in diamond-shank versions as well. In continental Europe, the Rhodesian is often called a sports-pipe. Bent-Bullcaps are generally larger than the straight ones, but are more often found among freehand models. One last Bent that is a shape on its own is the Calabash, directly copied from the Calabash pipe, which is made from the hard shell of an African gourd and fitted with a meerschaum bowl or lining."
Next articles: Guide to Pipe Shapes and Styles: Freehand Models
