Sven Lar Skulptur (by Michael Kabik) Large Rusticated Freehand (Estate)

Sven Lar was the name used by a workshop headed by American freehand carver Michael Kabik. Kabik got his start as one of the earliest freehand carvers in the United States, working for CHP-X Pipes, owned by Chuck Holiday, in the early-1970s. After CHP-X was forced to close, Kabik was approached with the offer of heading a new workshop in Virginia, which ultimately took on the name Sven Lar. As with many American freehand carvers, Kabik was especially influenced by the greats of Danish post-war pipe making, including Anne Julie, who spent time with Kabik, passing on the techniques of the trade.

I’ve said before that, while Sven Lar’s output was relatively typical of its contemporary, nascent American freehand scene, it’s clear from the workshop’s output that Kabik was trained as a sculptor before turning to pipes. This would be true even if he didn’t have a line of pipes named Skulptur, which I’d presume is taken from the Danish word for—of course—”sculpture.”

To call this one “sculptural” would be an understatement, as would be to call it “unique.” In both its form and finish it is clearly a pipe with a good deal of artistic vision behind it, and it is also, curiously enough, somewhat evocative of one of Kabik’s mentors, Anne Julie. One could draw comparisons with Julie’s floral inclinations when it comes to shaping, for instance, and to the unconventional approaches to rustication that she has spent decades creating and perfecting. Of course, Kabik’s and Julie’s pipes are very different to each other when considered as wholes, though the common avenues of experimentation their works display are, nonetheless, quite notable.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening, chamber slightly over-reamed, and minor finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.95 / 24.13mm

Bowl Depth: 2.60″ / 66.04mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g