Sven Lar by Michael Kabik Magnum Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

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.

Looking at a pipe such as this one, it’s easy to understand how, prior to making pipes, Kabik was a sculptor, and how Kabik considered freehand carving to be akin to sculpture. Sculture is, after all, an art that centers around making one material look like another; in this case, making solid briar look as malleable as putty or hot wax. It is almost as if the grain was erupting like molten stone, with plateau briar almost dripping from the pipe’s chamber. This happens to be the largest Kabik pipe I’ve ever seen, let alone held, and it is a true sitter, thanks to the balancing act played by its shank and enormously broad rim.

This Kabik is also completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. Fun fact: Kabik’s formula for his bowl coatings was one passed down to his workshop by none other than Denmark’s Anne Julie, who Kabik admired more than any other freehand pipe-maker.

 

Details:

Length: 9″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 1.02 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.9″ / 48.26mm

Weight: 3.3oz / 96g