Peter Stokkebye (Jorgen Larsen) E Long Shank Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

The Stokkebye family are giants in the tobacco world; their pipes are similarly renowned, but for a slightly different reason. This is because Stokkebye-brand pipes have been made, at different times, by different makers – typically, though not always, by Danish masters. Peter Stokkebye pipes were largely made by one seminal figure in Danish pipe-making by the name of Jorgen Larsen. Larsen began his career working for Stanwell, before embarking to create hand-made, high-grade pipes under his own name. A briar dust allergy would unfortunately cut Larsen’s career short, but not before he made his mark upon the high-grade scene, both through his pipes and through passing on his knowledge of pipe-making others. Most notably, this included guidance in the Danish style of pipe making provided to Kazuhiro Fukuda and Smio Satou of a then-germinal workshop known as Tsuge Ikebana.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Peter Stokkebye pipes are some of the finest produced in Denmark in the 20th century. But that’s because they were (mostly, including this one) made by Jorgen Larsen, one of the finest Danish pipe makers of the 20th century. And while Jorgen Larsen is not as widely known as certain contemporaries, such as Sixten Ivarsson, Hans Former Nielsen, or Anne Julie, those who do know him know the mastery and value of his work, hence the enduring and quite remarkable performance of his pipes on the estates market. Here we have a very classic design from Jorgen Larsen who, not wholly unlike his contemporary Sixten Ivarsson, gravitated toward shapes with long, slender shanks, juxtaposed with bowls that were more bulbous, or even hefty, in some cases (a comparison, for example, could be made with Ivarsson’s Peewit and Potato Sack designs, the latter being a motif that Larsen himself would also explore). Despite this juxtaposition of thick and thin, Larsen’s pipes never seemed wildly out of proportion and, in fact, as can be seen on this long shank brandy, they were typically beautifully balanced compositions. As can also be seen from this one, his pipes were expertly carved in terms of briar patterning, with straight grain patterns lining the bowl and even progressing seamlessly and consistently right up to the end of the shank.

The condition is very good. Some general wear to the rim, including a slight over-reaming of the top of the chamber, but nothing major. This pipe comes with its original presentation case, which from my experience handling Peter Stokkebye estates, is very rare. The box is a little time worn, but, again, not in any major way.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g