WO Larsen Partially Rusticated Panel Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

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.

Like the Italians and the Irish, the Danes had their own, distinct approaches to rustication. Though I’m not sure of its precise origins, the type of fine, micro-rustication seen here was brought to prominence by Peter Brakner, through his own approach to high-grade handmade pipes. [What was at one point named] WO Larsen’s Rustica line blended smooth and micro-rusticated finishes to great effect, such as in the case of this panel Dublin and its “fumed”-style rim. This one is an especially beautiful and distinctive version of that mixed finish, having its bowl sides predominantly covered in flame grain, making the “fumed effect” all the more fitting. Also of note is that this particular WO Larsen has a cumberland inlay spliced into its black ebonite stem—something not unheard of for WO Larsen pipes, but also certainly not common.

This pipe is also unsmoked, with an original (though now quite flaked) bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.38″ / 35.05mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g