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Tonni' | '''Tonni''' has been making pipes ever since the age of 16. With the mentors [[Former]] and [[Teddy Knudsen]] he had a good start making pipes for W.O. Larsen in the early 70’s. | ||
Tonni lives with his family in USA and today he is among the best pipe makers in the world. He finds his inspiration in nature – his recent shape “the Walnut” is a fine example of this. | |||
He finds his inspiration in | |||
'''Tonni describes his own background:''' | [[Image:tonninielsen3.jpg|thumb|image by Lars Kiel]][[Image:tonninielsen.jpg|thumb|left|Tonni Nielsen, image by Lars Kiel]][[Image:Tonninielsen_volcano.jpg|thumb|Beautiful Volcano by Tonni, courtesy [http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/tonni-nielsen/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=38969 Smokingpipes.com]]][[Image:tonninielsen1.jpg|thumb|left|210px]][[File:Former&Tonni.jpg|thumb|left|210px|A young Tonni Nielsen with Hans Nielsen ([[Former]])]][[Image:tonninielsen5.jpg|thumb|left|210px|image by Lars Kiel]]'''Tonni describes his own background:''' | ||
[[Image: | |||
[[Image:tonninielsen4.jpg|thumb|left|210px|image by Lars Kiel]][[Image:tonninielsen_working.jpg|thumb|image by Lars Kiel]]My name is '''Tonni Nielsen'''. I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1953. When I was 16 years old, I started working for W.Ø. Larsen. After 2 or 3 years, I started making Fancy and Straight Grain pipes of my own design at Larsen. I worked with [[Teddy Knudsen]] and [[Former]] (Hans Nielsen) amongst others. I also taught a number of pipe makers how to make pipes. Then in 1978 I started my own business and sold pipes around the world. At that point I sold pipes to W. Ø. Larsen and under my own name. In 1983 I moved to United States with my American wife and our two children. I have a pipe workshop in the basement of our home. Pipe making is so solitary that I also began playing tennis to get out of the house. That lead me to becoming a teaching pro. I enjoy both making pipes and teaching tennis. | |||
I was going to be a toolmaker, but decided against it for various reasons. Then I got a job at W. Ø. Larsen and after about 3 years, I had my own production of fancy pipes at Larsen. From then on, I began to realize that I had a future as a pipe maker. | I was going to be a toolmaker, but decided against it for various reasons. Then I got a job at W. Ø. Larsen and after about 3 years, I had my own production of fancy pipes at Larsen. From then on, I began to realize that I had a future as a pipe maker. | ||
Yes, there have been several pipe makers who have either helped or inspired me. Of course, Hans Nielsen (Former) and Teddy Knudsen were my mentors. Many pipe makers have been a great inspiration for me like Poul Ilsted, Jess Chonowitsch, Bo | Yes, there have been several pipe makers who have either helped or inspired me. Of course, Hans Nielsen (Former) and Teddy Knudsen were my mentors. Many pipe makers have been a great inspiration for me like [[Poul Ilsted]], [[Jess Chonowitsch]], [[Bo Nordh]], [[Sixten Ivarsson]] and [[Lars Ivarsson]] among others. | ||
I always work with the highest quality briar. Mostly, I am working with briar from Corsica and sometimes from Greece. For my mouthpieces, I use ebonite, cultured amber, or boxwood. | |||
As adornment to the pipe, between the stem and bowl, I use many exotic woods like boxwood, zebrawood, cocabolo, ziricate, ebony, tagau nut, and other materials. | As adornment to the pipe, between the stem and bowl, I use many exotic woods like boxwood, zebrawood, cocabolo, ziricate, ebony, tagau nut, and other materials. | ||
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The briar root is a material of incredible beauty. Most briar has imperfections, but those imperfections do not really take away from the beauty of the wood. I appreciate the perfect briar pieces as well as those with naturally occurring imperfections. | The briar root is a material of incredible beauty. Most briar has imperfections, but those imperfections do not really take away from the beauty of the wood. I appreciate the perfect briar pieces as well as those with naturally occurring imperfections. | ||
===Offsite Links=== | |||
*Listen to Brian Levine's interview with Tonni on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-185/ PipesMagazine Radio Show] | |||
*An excellent article on Tonni and his work appears at [http://tobaccodays.com/articles/tonni-nielsen-learn-why-this-danish-freehand-masters-innovative-techniques-make-him-one-of-the-most-diverse-pipe-makers-in-the-world-today/ Tobaccodays.com] | |||
'''Contact information:''' | '''Contact information:''' | ||
You can get in touch with Tonni at the following address - | |||
or you can contact him through [http://danishpipemakers.com/index.html danishpipemakers.com]: | |||
Tonni Nielsen | Tonni Nielsen | ||
9306 Plumwood Place | 9306 Plumwood Place | ||
Crestwood, KY 40014 | Crestwood, KY 40014 | ||
USA | USA | ||
E-mail: mailto:thenielsens4@hotmail.com | E-mail: mailto:thenielsens4@hotmail.com | ||
The basis of this article uses materials from danishpipemakers.com[http://danishpipemakers.com/index.html] materials, with kind permission. | The basis of this article uses materials from danishpipemakers.com[http://danishpipemakers.com/index.html] materials, with kind permission. | ||
[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]] | |||
[[Category: Denmark]] | |||
[[Category: United States]] |