WO Larsen (Sven Knudsen) Straight Grain Gr 5 Smooth Sitter Estate Briar Pipe, Danish Estates

Description

WO Larsen was a historic 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.

In the early years of the WO Larsen workshop, there were two main shape types: the Handmade and the Fancy. Both were made by hand, but the former were more classically inclined, whereas the latter were closer to what we call “freehand” pipes. In addition to this division, certain pipes were carved by the workshop’s top craftsmen, with the pinnacle of their output receiving a rare, “Straight Grain” classification and an ascending, numerical grade. This pipe, from the early 1960s, corresponds with the Fancy shape 1420, and is a Straight Grain grade 5. As it is an early Larsen, it will have been carved by the then-foreman, Sven Knudsen. The pipe itself is a magnificent, paneled freehand sitter with a plateau rim. A beautiful pipe and a great piece of Danish pipe history.

The condition is very good. Some rim darkening and slightly faded stamping.

 

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 1.10 / 27.94mm

Bowl Depth: 1.27″ / 32.25mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g