Stanwell (c.1995-2009) 179 Zebrano Sandblasted Apple (Estate)

About this pipe:

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.

Zebrawood is a decorative material that has a long history within Danish pipe making, and one example of this was Stanwell’s “Zebrano” line. Each pipe in that line featured a shank extension cut from zebrawood, which sandwiched between two amber-like acrylic bands. I always found it worked especially well with the sandblasted Zebrano variants, as seen here, as the dark-stained briar and acrylic accents contrasted in a manner that almost mirrored the striations of the line’s namesake.

This one looks to be a 1995-2009 make, from back when Stanwell pipes were manufactured at the company’s factory in Borup, Denmark. And it’s an interesting one, too, as it’s an example of a rather uncommon shape within Stanwell’s historical catalog. The “179” was one of a small number of designs licensed to Stanwell by Per Hansen and Ulf Noltensmeier of S. Bang fame, first debuting around the late 1980s to 1990s. Taking a supple, slightly bent classical apple rendition and adding a faceted shank made for a very nice looking pipe and, as such, all the more of a disappointment when it was discontinued so many years ago.

The condition is fair. Some rim charring, finish fading, and tooth chatter.

Details:

Length: 5.44″ / 138.1mm

Chamber Width: 0.75″ / 19.05mm

Chamber Depth: 1.41″ / 35.81mm

Bowl Height: 1.60″ / 40.64mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 44g