Larsen & Stigart Champ of Denmark XXL Spot Carved Freehand w/ Horn Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

While Denmark is famous for its pipe workshops, such as Suhr’s Pibemageri, Pibe-Dan, and W.O. Larsen, these were not the only places for which Danish artisan briars were made. Alongside such workshops, there were also many tobacconists and specialty pipe shops that contracted artisans to make pipes for them, which were sold under the name of the shop itself—much like the house-brand pipes of shops elsewhere in the world. Shops such as Poul Olsen, Remo Sørensen (using the Handicraft of Copenhagen name), and, at certain points in time, W.O. Larsen, sold house-brand pipes that had been commissioned from the leading artisans of the day. Larsen & Stigart is another example of this. Based in Copenhagen, the shop had its own line of pipes, Champ of Denmark, which were typically in the Danish Fancy freehand vein, for which it enlisted the services of figures like Karl Erik and Soren Eric Andersen.

Which of the great Danish carvers made this one is hard to say. It’s certainly in the wheelhouse of Karl Erik, though it is also a little more ornamental than his usual fare, especially with its sculpted, animal horn ferrule. It is also a far cry from the pipes normally associated with Soren Eric Andersen, who typically leaned a little closer to classical forms. What is certain is that it’s a masterful work, featuring just about everyone one could hope for from a high-grade Danish freehand. The shaping is interesting, the grain is excellent, and even the ferrule has been carefully cut so as to be aesthetically consistent with the rest of the design. It is also exceptionally large, with near-magnum proportions.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and a couple of superficial scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 7.6″ / 193.0mm

Bowl Width: 1.04 / 26.41mm

Bowl Depth: 1.84″ / 46.73mm

Weight: 2.7oz / 78g