2005 Ashton Pebble Grain XXX Panel Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Ashton is an English pipe brand created by William Ashton Taylor, a former Dunhill pipe-maker who left Dunhill in the 1980s to make pipes under his own name. Along with other pipe-makers such as Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall and Les Wood of Ferndown, Ashton emerged as part of a new wave of high end, hand made British pipes in the late 20th century.

This particular Ashton is quite a rare one. Not just because it is one of Bill Taylor’s last works before his illness and passing in 2009, but because it is also a panel billiard, as opposed to the more classical billiards Bill was otherwise known for. The sandblasting is more recognizably “Ashton” own, showing off the deep, craggy, ring grain finish that Bill was revered for.

The condition is very good, with some minor rim darkening and residual oxidation on the pipe’s cumberland stem. One thing I will point out is that the stem is not perfectly aligned with the shank. I looked at the internals to see if any damage could be causing this, but it seems that this is simply the way it ended up being made. I’ve adjusted the price to reflect this, but nonetheless I think it would be a great pipe for any collector or appreciator of handmade, Great British pipes.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.73″ / 43.94mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g