Batch of Ivarsson's on Ebay

[ssjones]

This seller has a number of Ivarrson's listed on Ebay today, should be fun!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Estate/4119/m.html?item=331930749836&_ssn=aunthelensstuff

 

[papipeguy]

Seriously? Asking over $1,000 and there's still tobacco in the bowl? Nice effort.

 

[ssjones]

Well, they are recently listed and already bid over $1k..I doubt anyone will touch them for anywhere near $2k.

 

[jvnshr]

Did she remove them? I see nothing.

 

[dmcmtk]

Some classic Ivarsson shapes from the period.

 

[ssjones]

No, all listed on that sellers page in the link (no clue if it is a "she")

 

[jvnshr]

Weird, when I click on that link I go to her ebay page and all I can see is a postcard. Probably she didn't make the items available for everyone (the username says aunt Helen, that's how I got the idea).

 

[ssjones]

Ah yes, Aunt Helen's stuff!
Heres the individual ads:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ivarsson-Estate-Pipe-Handmade-for-Pipe-Dan-Copenhagen-7-65-/331930749836?hash=item4d489d4b8c:g:hZ8AAOSwWC1XpiBL
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ivarsson-Estate-Pipe-Handmade-for-Pipe-Dan-Copenhagen-9-68-/331930757845?hash=item4d489d6ad5:g:aVAAAOSwARZXpiSu
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Danish-Ivarsson-Estate-3-25-Pipe-6-2-67-/331930777687?hash=item4d489db857:g:cnkAAOSwIgNXpivV
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Danish-Ivarsson-Estate-6-25-Pipe-267-/331930770597?hash=item4d489d9ca5:g:RwcAAOSwtnpXpihW
this one might top out at the highest price, it is the signature shape - right? (I know little about Ivarsson's,other than they get stratospheric prices)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Danish-Ivarsson-Estate-6-Pipe-24-1966-/331930785849?hash=item4d489dd839:g:yHQAAOSwdzVXpi4x

 

[sablebrush52]

Neat to see these pieces! Clearly enjoyed, if inexpertly. I'd love to have one, but not at those prices. The hoot behind all of this is that Sixten went the route he went because he was trying to cut down on the cost of making pipes, as he had no money, and was producing an inexpensive pipe. His inexpensive pipes now go for thousands each.

 

[clickklick]

People are nuts!

 

[dmcmtk]

This one might top out at the highest price, it is the signature shape - right? (I know little about Ivarsson's,other than they get stratospheric prices)

A slight variation of the Peewit shape. Shape 30 for Stanwell, note the slight curve of the somewhat shorter shank; beautiful cross grain on this example. The same shape for Stanwell from the Scandia line (with a slightly less elegant stem),

Two of the others, the OLIFANT, and the UKELELE can be seen on pgs. 54-55 of the PipeDan catalog here, along with the PEEWIT on the previous page. Also, in terms of influence on other Danish pipemakers of the period, see the OLIFANT and this pipe for Larsen by Sven Knudsen.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351797017702?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.danishpipemakers.com/pdf/pibedan_61_62.pdf

 

[jvnshr]

Thanks for the direct links SS.

 

[cigrmaster]

I just bid 2K on all of them, I have decided to become an Ivarsson collector.
Maybe not.
Ok, who here has an Ivarsson and can you explain why they smoke that much better than some high quality No American artisan pipes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I met Anna Ivarsson in Chicago, and no N. American artisan (that I've met so far) comes even close. Not even Alden!

 

[ssjones]

I guess trying to explain the appeal of pipes is like trying to justify why certain pieces of furniture go for many thousands of dollars (they certainly aren't more comfortable). Personally, most of the Danish pipe design is lost on me. However that Mini Half Bent on page 22 is super cool. Thanks for the Dan Catalog link Dave!

 

[jvnshr]

I can understand a new pipe going for $1000 even $2000 but

this one for $1,126? I mean it is used and as stated above it has tobacco inside. Obviously the owner didn't take care of it.

 

[ssjones]

The few unused Ivarrson's sell for anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, so $1,100 for a used estate is a deal to those collectors. I bet that one above breaks $2500 in the next two days.

 

[jvnshr]

 

[ssjones]

Nope,but it's fun to live vicariously to those bidders! Rich? Who knows. Folks do strange things for their vices.
I guess there is no real way of knowing if those stems are even original? The winner may be the straight grain with no stem - get George Dibos to make a proper stem for it, who's the wiser?

 

[sablebrush52]

Yes.
Some carvers have achieved "legendary" status for the quality of their output, their influence in the field, and their place in history. Nobody has more of that than Sixten Ivarsson, who created the Danish pipe carving style which broke with the earlier classical French shapes in favor of a more organic approach to shaping that followed and exploited the grain patterns in the wood. He opened a door through which hundreds, if not thousands, of other carvers all over the world have passed.
The prior owner of these had great taste, if mediocre technique. Sixten is long gone and there aren't any more of his pipes being made. Collectors will view with each other to add one to the pile. It's not that they will smoke any better than a decently made pipe going for a fraction of the money. It's about what these pipes represent esthetically to some collectors, and historically to others.