International reputation
There are many very good pipe makers in Germany. Many of them have built up a certain reputation and have been able to convince pipe smokers of their work. However, there are a few who have an international standing and are considered ‘high graders’. Rainer Barbi was such a person, as was Karl-Heinz Joura, and nowadays Cornelius Mänz, Dirk Heinemann and Werner Mummert. And of course Frank Axmacher. His few pipes are in great demand in Japan, China, the USA and Italy.
You're never educated enough
Born in Solingen in 1963, he is no longer considered a ‘youngster’, but he is still regarded by many as a ‘new’ pipe maker. He initially trained as a stone sculptor and stonemason in the 1980s. He was also involved in drawing and calligraphy while still at school. The icing on the cake in terms of previous training is the fact that Frank Axmacher trained as a wood sculptor in the 1990s. With all this knowledge and skill, it seems to have been only a matter of time before he found his way to pipe making.
Famous teachers
And so it came about at the beginning of the 2000s, initially as an autodidact. And because Frank Axmacher likes to learn everything from the ground up and education never hurts, courses with Bertram Safferling, Rainer Barbi and Tom Eltang followed. In the meantime, he had already built up a reputation. I also remember that Franx Axmacher already played an important role in the ancient social media precursors called ‘newsgroups’. His pipes were very favourably received and he was predicted to have a great future in pipe making. He could often be found at pipe fairs and meetings in tow with his ‘sparring partner’ and friend Jürgen Moritz. This is still the case today.
Inspection
In the meantime, his pipes could mainly be found in specialised shops. Achim Frank and Pfeifen Schilde in Essen were among the most grateful customers. In the mid-2010s, he took a creative break due to problems with the workshop location and other professional projects. After moving into a new workshop, however, he started making pipes again last year. At the pipe trade fair in Stuttgart, we were finally able to take a look at his pipes and were quite impressed. Our colleague Janez Valada in particular, who is a fan of elegant pipes and knows the old Danish masters very well, fell in love with his pipes.
Artistic design
Frank Axmacher's pipes are indeed elegant. But they also have an artistic quality and value that is hard to find anywhere else. His admiration for the Japanese pipe maker Kei ‘Ichi Gotoh is also reflected in his shaping. Sometimes his lines are straight and linear, but often more flowing and elegant. The shapes can also be a little more unusual, and he does not shy away from shapes that require a great deal of sensitivity and perseverance. Frank Axmacher prefers to use bamboo as decoration, but also horn, ornamental wood and other natural materials.
