WO Larsen Straight Grain Grade Sandblasted Egg Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

WO Larsen was a tobacconist in Copenhagen Denmark. In the 1960s, when Danish-style pipes were becoming highly sought after, thanks to revolutionary pipe-makers such as Sixten Ivarsson, a workshop was set up on the Larsen premises to produce enough high-grade Danish pipes to meet demand. This workshop was staffed by the emerging masters of Danish pipe-making, such as Sven and Teddy Knudsen, Hans ‘Former’ Nielsen, Jess Chonowitsch, Poul Ilsted, and Benni Jorgensen.

Originally, WO Larsen’s Straight Grain grade only applied to pipes in smooth finishes. Later on (and, crucially, while WO Larsen was still a workshop/artisan make and not the factory make it became much later on), this grading was extended to sandblasted pipes or, more specifically, pipes with excellent ring grain sandblasting. After all, “ring grain” is no less straight than “straight grain” as is most commonly understood—it just depends on how you’re looking at it. Jokes aside, the sandblasted Straight Grain pipes were, like their smooth counterparts, still made by the workshop’s resident masters from start to finish. Though I can’t be 100% sure, based on the shaping and finishing of this egg, or perhaps brandy, I would be very surprised if it hadn’t been crafted by either Benni Jorgensen or Lasse Skovgaard. In addition to being father and son, both worked on WO Larsen’s Straight Grains and share certain proclivities when it comes to pipe design, in addition to being two of Denmark’s finest sandblasters.

The condition is very good. Some minor finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.85″ / 46.99mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g