Stanwell (c.1980s) Antique 126 Partially Sandblasted Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Stanwell is one of Denmark’s most celebrated and enduring pipe companies, having been founded by Poul Nielsen shortly after the second world war. Over the last six decades, Stanwell has established itself as both a leader in innovative Danish design and for producing well-priced pipes with precision construction and engineering. Many of its designs were created for the company by iconic pipe-makers in the Scandinavian scene, such as Sixten Ivarsson, Anne Julie, Jess Chonowitsch, and Tom Eltang.

Stanwell’s Antique line appears to have debuted around the 1980s and, though it had a relatively short life, one could think as a precursor of sorts to the modern Vario. Like the latter, the Antique wore a mixed finish, blending a deep, dark sandblast with smooth sections highlighting the natural beauty of the briar. One key difference between the Vario and the Antique, however, was that the Antique also featured amber-toned acrylic military mounts, lending a little bit of extra distinction to the design. This one is rendered in Stanwell’s shape “126,” a now-discontinued, plateaux-topped, horn-Dublin hybrid created for Stanwell by legendary Danish artisan Tom Eltang, and juxtaposes a crisp, ring grain sandblast with straight grain striations very nicely. Judging by the thin white Stanwell “S” stem logo on the pipe’s vulcanite mouthpiece, I’d estimate this Antique to be a 1980s make.

The condition is very good. Minor wear to the inner rim and slight finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.61″ / 40.89mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g