Astleys of London Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe

Description

Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

This shape is a little reminiscent of Dunhill’s saddle bent billiards of old, and the understated proportions are very Dunhill-esque. Could this be a Dunhill-made Astleys? It would have to be the equivalent of an older Root grade, given the light stain and superb bird’s-eye grain patterns, but alas I cannot be sure, as is often the case with Astleys pipes. It doesn’t really matter, though, as the pipe is beautiful enough without a clear provenance.

The condition is very good. There is some rim darkening on the right side of the bowl, concentrated around the inner lip of the rim, but otherwise the pipe is very well preserved.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.52″ / 38.60mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g