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Anne Julie

Tier:

Country: Denmark

Price: €700+

Production method:

Notes: Anne Julie is the widow of pipe legend Poul Rasmussen, who died in 1966. A painter as well as a carver, she views her pipes as works of art. Former was her teacher, and she has worked with Danish greats such as Sven Knudsen and Emil Chonowitsch. Though somewhat controversial, she has long been able to demand prices close to those of Lars Ivarsson for her best pipes.

Comments: Some appraisals of Anne Julie conjure the image of pipedom's Yoko Ono. Critics overlook the fact that her style never cloned Poul's, and that she has now been in the business far longer than he was. It's widely agreed that she does not make all her pipes herself, yet this is very much in the Danish workshop tradition founded by Poul and other legends. Over the years, her co-workers have included some of Denmark's best carvers.

Her most famous shapes - such as her floral pipes and Lady's Leg - are aesthetically divisive (which is no unusual thing for someone who considers herself an artist, rather than a craftsperson). That said, they are no more outlandish and unpractical than a Ukulele or Snail. Her naturalistic style of rustication is unique and overall execution normally very good.

Anne Julie has been accused of an exorbitant price policy, partly in view of the fact that she is no grain fetishist. But acceptance or rejection of her price tags mostly hinges on one's attitudes to the other complaints mentioned here, and her customer base appears healthy and lasting. For this reason, it would be discriminatory not to include her in the 'Top' tier.

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