The quintessential craftsman, Jess has possibly influenced the greatest pipemakers of the modern era and captivated pipe enthusiasts worldwide. His 40 plus years of experience have forged skills that were initiated under the supervision of Poul Rasmussen (whom his father Emil worked for), augmented at the famous Larsen workshop, and refined under the tutelage of Sixten Ivarsson.

Jess' conspicuous creativity is obvious to everyone except himself. Humble, unpretentious and self-effacing, he considers his work craftsmanship rather than art. Perhaps as a consequence of this, Jess has dedicated himself to refining every procedure in his crafting: from initial carving to internal engineering, from the gentle curve of the rim to the careful shaping of the slot and button. His quest is to carve the perfect smoking instrument — a quest which he himself sees as an impossibility — but one which his sense of perfectionism requires.