GBD is renowned as one of the most innovative manufacturers, having always offered a vast range of shapes and series while frequently introducing new designs. Naturally, GBD responded to the growing interest in Danish pipes in its own sophisticated manner. From the late 1960s until the late 1970s, GBD enlisted the expertise of Horry Jamieson,…
This English-made Ben Wade Hand Model pipe is a unique and surprisingly effective piece. Its simple shape beautifully accents the fantastic birdseye grain on the left side of the bowl. The nomenclature corresponds to the Lane era times, but the stamping “ROMA” on the pipe is a bit unusual. Your thought regarding this would be…
Denmark, 1970s Champ of Denmark was a brand of the currently closed Larsen & Stigart tobacconist in Copenhagen, Denmark (along with “Larsen & Stigart”, “Shelburne”). As many advanced tobacco shops at that time had also an indoor production and employed such famous carvers as Søren Eric Andersen and Karl Erik Ottendahl who was the author…
Denmark, 1970s Jobey is the brand with perhaps the most tangled history. Since establishing in the 1920s the company has changed a whole row of owners, distributors and manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic. Frequently experts can’t reach an agreement regarding a specific Jobey pipe, its origin and dating. But the Jobey Dansk series…
Denmark, 1970s A pipe from the greatest Danish tobacconist made in the 1970s. There were many legendary pipe carvers working for W.Ø. LARSEN and it’s usually difficult to say who exactly made a specific pipe. But such the elongated, specifically bent stem hints that our today’s pipe was made by (or at least inspired by)…
Denmark, 1980s The W.Ø. Larsen Port pipes are relatively affordable and they were made already during the 1980-90s, when the company tried to enter a mass market. Due to its unique shape the pipe sits in a hand very comfortably and naturally. A wonderful example! Pipe markings “Port”, “84”, “W.Ø. LARSEN \ MADE IN DENMARK”…
Italy Mario Grandi is not a real person. Mario Grandi is a brand name, or, to be more exact, a sub brand name related to Mastro Beraldi. At the same time Mastro Beraldi is not a real person either. The real name of a real person (and the very hardworking pipe carer!) who stands behind…
Italy There’s a very interesting and very rare Savinelli pipe with the crowned snake logo on the stem. Such logos were noticed only to “Had made” and “Rock Grain” pipes and it seems the Hand Made ones were a second of the Savinelli’s luxurious Autograph line. It sounds quite reasonable, especially because “HAND MADE” was…
Denmark Karl Erik Ottendahl (1942 – 2004) was one of the most famous Denmark artisans, who offered good, “really Danish” pipes for an affordable value. He began smoking pipe when he was 14, and started carving as a hobby. Over a few years Karl Erik founded his own workshop, but later he realized that the…
England, 1960-70s A very high grade GBD pipe marked both “Prodigy” and “Straight grain” made approximately between the late 1960s and late 1970s most probably by Horry Jamieson (ex Barling carver), who was experienced in freehand design and created many amazing “Collector” and “Unique” pipes for GBD. A decent response to Danish artisans!