Georg Jensen Pipes - Models, Shapes, Info, and Mysteries

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S

ScienceSmoker

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I'm a bit of a collector of Georg Jensen pipes. From early on when I started smoking a pipe, I liked GJ pipes, they were on par with (or better than) Stanwell quality-wise, but were half the price. Prices of GJ pipes have gone up a bit since I started collecting, but they're still fairly inexpensive for the quality.
The only problem I see with GJ pipes is the weirdly haphazard way they name, number, and stamp their pipes. There are countless "model" names and pipes with the same name that seemingly have no relation to each other. And it's the same with the shape numbers, some have 2 digits, some 3, some 4 - and they all seem meaningless. I have a GJ "Excellent" which has grain far less beautiful than one of my Achat's. Then there are the mysterious "other" stampings - what do they mean? Who knows. I mean, I know what "straight grain" and "flame grain" mean... but what does "starline" mean? What does "de luxe" signify? Also, I've seen GJ "straight grain" or "flame grain" pipes which *really* didn't deserve that stamp. It's all quite mysterious.

Still, for a couple years, I've been trying to collect the myriad model names and decipher the shapes associated with GJ's numbers.

In this post, I'm talking mainly about Georg Jensen pipes... not any of the various secondary lines, of which there were many. The second lines that I am aware of are: White Star, North Dane, Jen Briar, Danets, and York (Monopol Briar). There may be others, but I don't know them.
Due to some copyright issues with the silversmith Georg Jensen, pipes meant for the US market are stamped only "Jensen" instead of "Georg Jensen". They aren't technically a "second", still I tend to stick to only Georg Jensen stamped pipes.

The most common "main" stamp is "Georg Jensen / Made in Denmark PIPES" but even the main logo stamp went through a few iterations. There are two "Georg Jensen" stamps in normal capital letters, the very common one, and a smaller one with a slightly different font and "Handmade in Denmark".
Here is the most common one:

mainstamp1.jpg

Now the second one:
handmadeMAIN.jpg

And then there is a "script" type main stamp, this one:

scriptMAIN.jpg

Now, I don't know the dates of these stamps or in what order they came or if they signify anything specific. But I do know there is a fourth main stamp that is *very* rare, and that is the "signature" stamp. I actually got one pipe with that stamp early on in my collecting and it puzzled me for a while. Eventually I actually saw Per Georg Jensen on Facebook and asked him about that mysterious signature. He said it was his father's and they only used it on "the very best pipes". I have two pipes with it now, and they're both exceedingly difficult to take a picture of. They're hard to find examples of online as well. But here is the best example of it I could find:

GJsignatureMAIN.jpg

So, those are the main name stamps. Now on to the real strangeness - the models.

The model names were generally in all capital letters... but there were plenty of GJ pipes that had no model name stamp at all. Here are the model names that I have seen:
-SUNRISE
-GOODWILL
-REBILD [named after Danish woodland region]
-ÅCHAT
-72 EKSTRA
-DANIA
-GRANAT
-ANTIK
-AMBER
-WEGA
-ZENTA
-CRAZY [painted/lacquered in modernist colors resembling automotive paint - I've only seen silver and seafoam green. Also... I'd kill for one.]
-ONYX
-DE LUXE
-GRAND PRIX
-INDIAN
-REDSKIN
-FIREFLAME
-RED FLAME
-ORANGE
-ORANGE EXTRA
-ORION
-SAFIR
-SIRIUS
-HARMONY
-ARSPIBE [Rare - Means "Annual Pipe" in Danish. Always followed by a year, eg.ARSPIBE 2005 - strangly, I've read that Georg Jensen went out of business in 2001, but I've seen several ARSPIBE pipes *after* 2001, like an ARSPIBE 2008 or 2005. Also, I've often seen GJ pipes with only a year, but no "ARSPIBE". For example, I have a pipe stamped with only the main stamp and "2001" and seen others with various other years.]
-jUL [always associated with the script Georg Jensen stamp, and interesting stems - some with 3 dots or lucite stems]
-KONTRAST [with large wood circle on stem where the GJ logo usually is - GJ logo is on the other side]
-Intarsia [in script - usually has a wood accent diagonally on the top of the stem]
-ROYAL NAVY [has an accent ring at the end of shank with 3 or 4 brass stripes - I suspect that GJ planned on making a line of "Royal Navy" pipes, with some "Commander", some "Admiral", and maybe some other rank names. As it turned out, I've never seen a "Commander" stamp without a "Royal Navy" stamp... but I have seen "Admiral" stamps without the "Royal Navy" stamp.]
-Admiral [in script - has an accent ring with 4 brass stripes]
-ALU BAND [has an aluminum band]
-Brassring [pipe has a brass ring accent at end of shank - usually has the older style "Georg Jensen" stamp]
-Brass Band [in script - pipe has a brass ring accent at end of shank - usually has the script style "Georg Jensen" stamp]
-SPECIAL
-EXCELLENT
-SUPERB
-SUPREMO [Only 49 were made, to celebrate GJ's 49 years in business - they're each numbered "X of 49". I really want one.]

*Other Stamps [all in script]*:
1st Edition
Starline
de Luxe
Straight Grain
Flame Grain
Hand Cut

That's it for now. If anyone has more info, I'd love to hear it and have it added. Also, I'll try to get some information ready on the shape numbers... but that's it's own jumble of mayhem.
thanks!
 
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S

ScienceSmoker

Guest
I have a small billiard/lovat that has only the GJ on the stem and stamped "SPECIAl" on the shank No other stampings. Has a thin brass ring on the stem.
I have one with the same markings. Is it sandblasted, and black? Whatever it is, a picture always helps. But it's very likely a GJ.
 
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craig61a

Lifer
Apr 29, 2017
6,160
52,930
Minnesota USA
I have one, which I like, and I should smoke it more often.

They used to be more numerous on eBay with a particular seller, and I always wanted to buy more, but found other things to blow my money on...
 

F4RM3R

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 28, 2019
567
2,515
38
Canada
Great post! I’ve been eyeing up some georg jensens as I’ve seen them popping up recently. Very good bang for the buck it seems. Just picked up one on eBay and just noticed right now as I look at the pics closer, that it’s one of those handwritten style signatures. Cost around 27usd with shipping.39715F72-6D09-46DD-B3FA-8329C0FC8672.jpeg
 
S

ScienceSmoker

Guest
Great post! I’ve been eyeing up some georg jensens as I’ve seen them popping up recently. Very good bang for the buck it seems. Just picked up one on eBay and just noticed right now as I look at the pics closer, that it’s one of those handwritten style signatures. Cost around 27usd with shipping.View attachment 112233
Cool... from what I can see in the picture, however, it looks like you have the "script" stamp and not the "signature" stamp. The signature is mostly illegible and looks like an actual signature. It's hard to see even in the fourth picture in my post. The script stamp, on the other hand, has a big, doubled-lined G "eorg", and a big double-lined J then "ensen". That's still a really nice pipe though.
 
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elessar

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 24, 2019
666
1,409
I'm a fan of these pipes as well. I've got at least 4 (at least I've found 4 so far). A Kontrast, 72 Ekstra, Alu Band, and a Jul 2000 with 3 gold dots on the stem. All great smokers.

I've read somewhere that the color of the GJ stamp on the stem differentiated some of the lines as well.
 

F4RM3R

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 28, 2019
567
2,515
38
Canada
Cool... from what I can see in the picture, however, it looks like you have the "script" stamp and not the "signature" stamp. The signature is mostly illegible and looks like an actual signature. It's hard to see even in the fourth picture in my post. The script stamp, on the other hand, has a big, doubled-lined G "eorg", and a big double-lined J then "ensen". That's still a really nice pipe though.
Okay great thanks for the info!
 

SBC

Lifer
Oct 6, 2021
1,621
7,637
NE Wisconsin
This is fascinating info. I love hearing guys geek out on a narrow niche.

I have an unsmoked White Star billiard. It came in a lot, once, and I've never touched it. It's a tallish billiard -- not a chimney, but about 1/2" taller than classic -- so I'll probably sell it whenever I get around to it.
 
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elessar

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 24, 2019
666
1,409
There is an episode of the podcast in which Per Jensen talks exclusively about his Father's lines of pipes.

Mike S.
I feel like I remember listening to this podcast. It should be on here somewhere.

I also had the opportunity to chat with the man himself about the pipes that bear his name. He is a pleasure to talk with and truly a class act. His knowledge of pipes and tobacco is tremendous and he shares it freely. If I find a Georg Jensen pipe I usually buy because they always bring back positive memories of chatting with the man himself.
 
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S

ScienceSmoker

Guest
I feel like I remember listening to this podcast. It should be on here somewhere.

I also had the opportunity to chat with the man himself about the pipes that bear his name. He is a pleasure to talk with and truly a class act. His knowledge of pipes and tobacco is tremendous and he shares it freely. If I find a Georg Jensen pipe I usually buy because they always bring back positive memories of chatting with the man himself.
Are you guys talking about the Pipesmagazine radio show podcast?
 

seanv

Lifer
Mar 22, 2018
3,098
11,112
Canada
Thanks for the info. You should definitely submit your info to Pipedia.
I have a small Danets pipe that I got off eBay a few years ago for $5. It is a great little pipe
 
S

ScienceSmoker

Guest
Thanks for the info. You should definitely submit your info to Pipedia.
I have a small Danets pipe that I got off eBay a few years ago for $5. It is a great little pipe
Yeah, the seconds I've seen are pretty nice too... I wish I knew more about them.
 
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