Stanwell I.M. 91 Smooth Canadian Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

Stanwell is one of Denmark’s most celebrated and enduring pipe companies, having been founded by Poul Nielsen shortly after the second world war. Over the last six decades, Stanwell has established itself as both a leader in innovative Danish design and for producing well-priced pipes with precision construction and engineering. Many of its designs were created for the company by iconic pipe-makers in the Scandinavian scene, such as Sixten Ivarsson, Anne Julie, Jess Chonowitsch, and Tom Eltang.

It has been a tradition for many years now for Stanwell to provide pipes for the many slow-smoking competitions that take place across Denmark. This is why some Stanwells can be found with initials such as “SM,” “RM,” or, as with this one, “DM.” The “M” stands for “mesterskab,” which is Danish for something like “championship”; intuitively, the “D” on this one stands for “Danmarks.” This looks to be a championship pipe from 1991, but it is marked I.M., which I’ve seen before, but never been able to work out what the “I” signifies. Could it be “International” (the English and Danish word is the same in this instance), or perhaps for an Italian competition? If you know, please enlighten me. In the meantime, I will do my usual “party trick” and identify which Stanwell shape this numberless Stanwell is: number 113. A sort of brandy-Canadian hybrid, if you will, this time dressed in a relatively uncommon (for Stanwell) light, natural stain.

The condition is very good. Slight rim darkening and handling marks, but nothing major.

 

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.73 / 18.54mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g