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Brands

Jess Chonowitsch

Tier:

Affordable	Mid-grade	Elevated	High-grade	Top
				X

Country: Denmark

Price: € 900+

Production method:

Factory	Machine-assisted	Freehand
		X

Notes: The son of Emil Chonowitsch, but not his successor (father and son entered the carving trade almost simultaneously).

Jess is generally considered one of the top five carvers in the world. Indeed, he and Lars Ivarsson are the two makers most commonly named immediately after Bo Nordh himself. Of the others regularly mentioned in this context, both Jörn Micke and Björn Bengtsson are rather too elusive to join any competitions. Teddy Knudsen and Ingo Garbe's claims to superlative status enjoy less unanimous support.

Ironically, part of Jess Chonowitsch's appeal may be 'low' price - though only compared to Ivarsson's tags and those of Bo himself. Of the triumvirate at the very top of the pipe world, Jess is usually the most (quasi-) affordable.

Comments: I hesitate to say that I find Jess Chonowitsch overrated, since his pipes are as nearly perfect in execution and smoking performance as I have experienced anywhere. It would be fairer to say that I consider some other brands underrated in relation to a 'Chono'. In Denmark, Bang and Ilsted are good examples, and Larry Roush jumps to mind among Americans (indeed, pipes by Larry and Jess offer very similar smoking experiences).

People looking for Chonowitsch-like smoking qualities on a significantly lower budget will probably be very satisfied with a pipe made by Jörn Larsen, with whom Jess Chonowitsch has cooperated closely.

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