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Ivarsson, Sixten: Difference between revisions
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The first shapes that he created were not far from the classic, traditional English shapes, only a little more slender and with angles that were not always 900 for a billard. | The first shapes that he created were not far from the classic, traditional English shapes, only a little more slender and with angles that were not always 900 for a billard. | ||
[[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu1.jpg|thumb|left|Example 1 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu2.jpg|thumb|Example 2 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu3.jpg|thumb|Example 3 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicDublin.jpg|thumb|left|Example 4 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]]Typical post-war Sixten Ivarsson shapes from end of | [[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu1.jpg|thumb|left|Example 1 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu2.jpg|thumb|Example 2 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicZulu3.jpg|thumb|Example 3 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]][[File:SixtenIvarsson ClassicDublin.jpg|thumb|left|Example 4 of Sixten's take on classic English shapes, Courtesy Lars Kiel, [http://www.danishpipemakers.com/ www.danishpipemakers.com]]]Typical post-war Sixten Ivarsson shapes from end of 1940s and beginning of 1950s: Classic English shapes like Zulu and Dublin, but more slender and slim and slightly different curves. | ||
The rumor was soon spread that at [[Suhr's Pibemageri]] it was possible to get new pipes and even in a somewhat different design. The price was relatively high, but there were no proper alternatives in the market. The rumor even reached Kyringe . In this small village in the countryside, [[Poul Nielsen]] considered how the factory, [[Kyringe-piben]], was to be carried on and developed, now that war was over and briar was accessible. The factory was started during the war and produced charcoal of beech wood. The charcoal was used for generators on vehicles since gasoline was very much in shortage. The factory also had a small secondary production of pipes, also in beech wood. | The rumor was soon spread that at [[Suhr's Pibemageri]] it was possible to get new pipes and even in a somewhat different design. The price was relatively high, but there were no proper alternatives in the market. The rumor even reached Kyringe . In this small village in the countryside, [[Poul Nielsen]] considered how the factory, [[Kyringe-piben]], was to be carried on and developed, now that war was over and briar was accessible. The factory was started during the war and produced charcoal of beech wood. The charcoal was used for generators on vehicles since gasoline was very much in shortage. The factory also had a small secondary production of pipes, also in beech wood. | ||
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How about leaving this top on the bowl and thereby get a new and decorative element in the shape. This had not been seen before, at least not in a Danish pipe. With this shape Sixten had created a "forerunner" for all the many Danish free-hands with a rough-top that were to become very popular in the 60'ies. Sixten called this pipe The Unfinished. | How about leaving this top on the bowl and thereby get a new and decorative element in the shape. This had not been seen before, at least not in a Danish pipe. With this shape Sixten had created a "forerunner" for all the many Danish free-hands with a rough-top that were to become very popular in the 60'ies. Sixten called this pipe The Unfinished. | ||
=== Another story from the end of the | === Another story from the end of the 1950s === | ||
Sixten had carved one of his typical, long and slim shapes in straight grain. Unfortunately, there was a very dull grain in the briar at one side on the top of the bowl, spoiling the total impression of the pipe. Sixten found the solution to this problem when he saw a bust of Nefertete, the ancient Egyptian queen with the slant head, mother in law of Tut-ankh-Amon. Sixten cut off the dull part in an 45 0 angle, thus creating a new shape, Nefertete. It can also be found in old Stanwell catalogues. | Sixten had carved one of his typical, long and slim shapes in straight grain. Unfortunately, there was a very dull grain in the briar at one side on the top of the bowl, spoiling the total impression of the pipe. Sixten found the solution to this problem when he saw a bust of Nefertete, the ancient Egyptian queen with the slant head, mother in law of Tut-ankh-Amon. Sixten cut off the dull part in an 45 0 angle, thus creating a new shape, Nefertete. It can also be found in old Stanwell catalogues. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
In the beginning of the 60'ies, Sixten began to have pupils. From an early age his son Lars earned his pocket money in the workshop, first by sweeping the floor, then by repairing pipes and finally by making his own pipes. Lars graduated from school of economics with a degree, but pipe making won over economics. (About Lars, see P&T vol. 1 no. 4). Later came Jess Chonowitsch (P&T vol. 2, no. 3) and [[Jørn Micke]] (who is almost unknown, except in Japan). They are all known to make very high grade pipes. | In the beginning of the 60'ies, Sixten began to have pupils. From an early age his son Lars earned his pocket money in the workshop, first by sweeping the floor, then by repairing pipes and finally by making his own pipes. Lars graduated from school of economics with a degree, but pipe making won over economics. (About Lars, see P&T vol. 1 no. 4). Later came [[Jess Chonowitsch]] (P&T vol. 2, no. 3) and [[Jørn Micke]] (who is almost unknown, except in Japan). They are all known to make very high grade pipes. | ||
Bo Nordh from Sweden, perhaps the perfectionist above all perfectionists, gained much inspiration from Sixten. He developed his shapes from classical pipes of less interest into fantastic free hand shapes through his acquaintance with Sixten, who still had Swedish citizenship. Finally Lars' daughter Nanna assisted Sixten in his workshop late in the 80'ies and in the beginning of the 90'ies, especially with the stages of process that need a good eye sight. She also learnt to carve her own pipes, but has now chosen to become an industrial designer. In these pipe makers´ pipes you can see a clear similarity with Sixten's shapes, especially in their earlier pipes. Today the pupils of "Sixten's school" have developed their own style, but the relationship to the master's style can still be seen. | Bo Nordh from Sweden, perhaps the perfectionist above all perfectionists, gained much inspiration from Sixten. He developed his shapes from classical pipes of less interest into fantastic free hand shapes through his acquaintance with Sixten, who still had Swedish citizenship. Finally Lars' daughter Nanna assisted Sixten in his workshop late in the 80'ies and in the beginning of the 90'ies, especially with the stages of process that need a good eye sight. She also learnt to carve her own pipes, but has now chosen to become an industrial designer. In these pipe makers´ pipes you can see a clear similarity with Sixten's shapes, especially in their earlier pipes. Today the pupils of "Sixten's school" have developed their own style, but the relationship to the master's style can still be seen. | ||
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=== Sixten's Importance/Impact === | === Sixten's Importance/Impact === | ||
[[File:SixtenJapan1.jpg|thumb|400px|left]][[File:SixtenJapan2.jpg|thumb|400px|right]]Sixten's great impact on Danish pipe making culture is perhaps clearest when you look at the persons from the "pipe establishment" who attended his funeral in the spring of 2001: Pipe makers and son, [[Lars Ivarsson]] and granddaughter, [[ Nanna Ivarsson]], of course, also | [[File:SixtenJapan1.jpg|thumb|400px|left]][[File:SixtenJapan2.jpg|thumb|400px|right]]Sixten's great impact on Danish pipe making culture is perhaps clearest when you look at the persons from the "pipe establishment" who attended his funeral in the spring of 2001: Pipe makers and son, [[Lars Ivarsson]] and granddaughter, [[ Nanna Ivarsson]], of course, also Jess Chonowitsch and Jørn Micke, Per Hansen & Ulf Noltensmeier ([[S. Bang]]) and [[Tom Eltang]], all among the upper class of artisan pipe makers in the world, from [[Stanwell]]: Managing director Jens Lillelund and foreman Arne Dehli and finally the author of this article as a "pipe fan" and "pipe friend" | ||
*When Sixten started at Suhr's Pipe Repair Shop, a pipe maker was a more or less unskilled worker like a navvy or factory worker. When he ended his career, a pipe maker was considered an artist in his field performing highly admired artisan work (e.g. like a silver smith) that sold at sometimes incredible prices. | *When Sixten started at Suhr's Pipe Repair Shop, a pipe maker was a more or less unskilled worker like a navvy or factory worker. When he ended his career, a pipe maker was considered an artist in his field performing highly admired artisan work (e.g. like a silver smith) that sold at sometimes incredible prices. | ||
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=== Sixten in the USA === | === Sixten in the USA === | ||
In the beginning of the | In the beginning of the 1960s Sixten was well established and had a number of regular customers. The two catalogues (in English) from the leading pipe shops in Copenhagen (Larsen and Dan) both had Sixten pipes, and the catalogues aroused a beginning American interest. | ||
An agent from Marshall Fields became Sixten's first whole selling customer in the US, but the perhaps biggest retailing tobacconist in the World, Iwan Ries in Chicago soon became Sixten's customer. From about 1965, Ries had the sole agency of Sixten's pipes, and Sixten was most often the top pipe maker of the catalogues from Ries. Up till the 1981 catalogue you will find Sixten's pipes, and the prices run from 300-600$ for an ordinary Sixten Pipe, right up to 3000$ (in 1978) for the most extraordinary shapes. | An agent from Marshall Fields became Sixten's first whole selling customer in the US, but the perhaps biggest retailing tobacconist in the World, Iwan Ries in Chicago soon became Sixten's customer. From about 1965, Ries had the sole agency of Sixten's pipes, and Sixten was most often the top pipe maker of the catalogues from Ries. Up till the 1981 catalogue you will find Sixten's pipes, and the prices run from 300-600$ for an ordinary Sixten Pipe, right up to 3000$ (in 1978) for the most extraordinary shapes. | ||
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=== Sixten carved his last pipes in 1993-94 === | === Sixten carved his last pipes in 1993-94 === | ||
Many wonderful Sixten Ivarsson free-forms from the end of the | Many wonderful Sixten Ivarsson free-forms from the end of the 1960s – these are very organic and asymmetrical - and a few “neo-classic” Sixten Ivarsson shapes. These beautiful photos are from a Japanese pipe book from 1971. | ||
=== Anecdotes about Sixten === | === Anecdotes about Sixten === | ||
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=== About Jakob Groth === | === About Jakob Groth === | ||
Jakob has been writing a lot of articles to the Danish magazine Piber & Tobak since the | Jakob has been writing a lot of articles to the Danish magazine Piber & Tobak since the 1980s. He also worked for 10 years in the famous pipe shop Pibe-Dan while he studied at the University. | ||
Thanks a lot to the people who have helped Jacob in his research: | Thanks a lot to the people who have helped Jacob in his research: | ||