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 40’s and beginning of 50’s: Classic English shapes like Zulu and Dublin, but more slender and slim and slightly different curves.
[[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 50's ===
=== 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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=== Sixten in the USA ===
=== Sixten in the USA ===
In the beginning of the 1960's 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.
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 60’s – 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.
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 80's. He also worked for 10 years in the famous pipe shop Pibe-Dan while he studied at the University.
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: