WO Larsen Select Smooth Brandy 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.

I must admit, I was a little surprised when this Larsen arrived on my desk. Not just because it is absolutely stunning, but because despite being one of the most beautiful Larsens I’ve ever held (and I do own some pretty beautiful Larsens), it is only a ‘Select’ grade piece. Surely a pipe with grain as impeccable as this one would qualify for a ‘Straight Grain’ grade? I have a number of Straight Grains that, while being wonderful pipes, aren’t quite as nice on the eye as this one.

I do have some theories as to why it isn’t a Straight Grain, however. Judging by the nomenclature, this Select is from the 1980s, the last decade during which Larsen pipes were made in the W.O. Larsen workshop, by its various masters. In my opinion, the standard of Larsen pipes increased over time as better and better pipes came out of the workshop, meaning what would have been a Straight Grain in the 1970s was closer to a Select grade in the 1980s. The other explanation would be that, as Select pipes were produced collaboratively (one maker turning the bowls, another making stems, etc.) by the workshop’s top artisans, rather than being produced solo as the Straight Grains were, this Select missed out on the top grade purely because more than one set of hands went into creating it.

Those are my thoughts, for what they’re worth. The condition is fantastic, too. Some extremely minor tooth chatter on the ebonite stem is all I can see worth noting in that regard. I’ve actually had this one ready to list for a few weeks now, contemplating whether or not to keep it, but I think I’m just about ready to let it go now.

Details:

Length: 5.2″

Bowl Width: 20.2mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g