Ropp Supreme 9 Cherry Wood Estate Briar Pipe [SOLD OUT]

Description

Ropp is a historic French make, founded in 1870 by Eugène-Léon Ropp. Ropp’s original claim to fame was patenting the first pipes made from cherry wood, at a time when pipe-makers were still exploring which materials were most suitable to meet the needs and increasing numbers of tobacco pipe smokers. Later, Ropp established a workshop in Saint-Claude, the birthplace of the briar pipe, to produce pipes from this new standard of pipe production. Ropp still continued to produce cherry wood pipes alongside their briars, however, as many smokers favored the distinct look and smoking properties of the former.

This Ropp is one of their famous cherry wood pipes – not the angled poker shape most associated with the term today, but one of the pipes that gave the cherrywood shape its name. This one, however, has been carved in a different way to many pipes made from the trunk of the cherry tree. The chamber has been drilled horizontally into what was the trunk of the tree, with the shank drilled into what would have been its vertical axis. It gives the pipe a very curious, natural look and allows the bark of the tree to act as a guard of sorts against rim char. It also looks fascinating – almost like the golf club shapes explored by other makers.

The vulcanite stem has a little chatter, but nothing that would affect the smoking properties and longevity of the pipe, and the rim has some darkening on the inner lip, but otherwise this pipe is in excellent condition. It is likely at least half a century old, which makes the condition all the more remarkable.

 

Details:

Length: 6″

Bowl Width: 21.9mm

Bowl Depth: 1.6″

Weight: 2.9oz / 83g