Stanwell (c. 1980s) Vario 63M Partially Sandblasted Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

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 Vario line first appeared around the 1980s, if memory serves, and was distinguished by a previously unexplored theme among Stanwell’s designs: mixed finishes. As gestured to by the name, Vario pipes were variously smooth polished and sandblasted, before being given a two-tone finish that was similarly divided between the different sections of the bowl. In the case of this one, the Vario finish has been applied to one of Stanwell’s most classic and enduring shapes, the “63” Dublin designed by Sixten Ivarsson in the 1970s. In fact, it’s the vulcanite army mount version of the “63,” designated the “63M,” as was standard for Stanwell’s “Military” mounted models at the time. The shape is a personal favorite of mine (yes, I have one), which in this instance has been given a real distinctive edge through its blending of ring grain and straight grain.

As for dating, owing to the absence of a registration number stamp and the presence of a thin, white Stanwell “S” stem logo, I’d estimate this as being an early 1980s make.

The condition is fair. Some rim darkening and finish fading, and what could be a small dent at the front of the bowl, but which could also simply be part of the sandblasting.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.48″ / 37.59mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g