WO Larsen Partially Rusticated Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

WO Larsen was a tobacconist in Copenhagen Denmark. In the 1960s, when Danish-style pipes were becoming highly sought after, thanks to revolutionary pipe-makers such as Sixten Ivarsson, a workshop was set up on the Larsen premises to produce enough high-grade Danish pipes to meet demand. This workshop was staffed by the emerging masters of Danish pipe-making, such as Sven and Teddy Knudsen, Hans ‘Former’ Nielsen, Jess Chonowitsch, Poul Ilsted, and Benni Jorgensen.

Like the Italians and the Irish, the Danes had their own, distinct approaches to rustication. Though I’m not sure of its precise origins, the type of fine, micro-rustication seen here was brought to prominence by Peter Brakner, through his own approach to high-grade handmade pipes. [What was at one point named] WO Larsen’s Rustica line blended smooth and micro-rusticated finishes to great effect, typically either in the form of a “fumed” style rim, or, as in the case of this one, a textured base, adding an ergonomic element to the motif. The shaping is that of a classic Danish Dublin, complete with a plateaux edge rim, all of which works to properly emphasize the quite exceptional straight grain expressed by the bowl.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.72″ / 43.68mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g