Stanwell Rouge 160 Sandblasted Bent Billiard Pipe, Made in Denmark, Tapered Vulcanite Fishtail Stem, White Acrylic Band, 9mm Filter

STANWELL, ROUGE 160 and MADE IN DENMARK are stamped on the shank, and a white crowned S sits on the stem. This is an amazing bent sandblast from Stanwell: a bent billiard with a vulcanite shank insert that ends in a white acrylic band, a tapered vulcanite stem with a fishtail bit, and a bore for a 9mm filter.

It is pre-smoked and in very good condition. ROUGE 160 is crisp; the STANWELL and MADE IN DENMARK lines are lighter in places.

Stanwell began in wartime Denmark. In 1942 Poul Nielsen set up pipe production, at first in beech. The maker's own catalogue of about 1982 remembers those years: in the early 1940s beech pipes were made in six Danish factories, and five of them closed after the war. In 1948 the name Stanwell was registered as a trademark, Reg. No. 969-48, and in 1952 new equipment came in and the pipes went for export to Europe and the USA.

In 1965, in the maker's own words, production moved to a new modern factory in Borup (some later sources give 1969). By the time of that catalogue Stanwell spoke of about 35 percent of Danish pipe export and of export to about 40 countries. Danish production ended at the end of 2009; from 2010 the pipes have been made by Barontini in Italy, limited editions excepted.

THE MARKS
- STANWELL stamped on the shank
- ROUGE 160 stamped on the shank
- MADE IN DENMARK stamped on the shank
- Crowned S in white on the stem

In the Stanwell shape-number list compiled by Bas Stevens and McNally, 160 is "Large bent, conical bowl by Jess Chonowitsch." We describe this pipe as a bent billiard. It is 140 mm long, with a bowl 48 mm high and 38 mm wide.

The shank holds a vulcanite insert, and the white acrylic band sits at its end, where the stem joins. The tapered vulcanite stem pushes in there and finishes in a fishtail bit. The pipe takes a 9mm filter.

The sandblast covers the bowl and the shank. A sandblast is made by blasting the shaped bowl, so the softer wood wears away and the harder growth rings stand up, and no two blasts come out the same. On the left side of this bowl the rings show as wide circles.

MADE IN DENMARK is the stamp of Stanwell's Danish years; from 2010 the regular Italian-made pipes carry DANISH DESIGN instead, so this stamp places the pipe in Danish production. The crowned S on the stem went from white to brass to silver over the years, but no years are attached to those steps, so the logo gives no date of its own.

THE MEASUREMENTS
- Length: 140 mm (5.51 in)
- Bowl height: 48 mm (1.89 in)
- Bowl width: 38 mm (1.50 in)
- Chamber diameter: 20 mm (0.79 in)
- Chamber depth: 40 mm (1.57 in)
- Weight: 45 g (1.59 oz)

Ships from the Faridunhill archive. Worldwide shipping and professional sanitation on every estate pipe. SKU: 600