Ashton 1989 Old Church XXX Sandblasted Dublin 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.

The Old Church was William Taylor’s re-imagining of Dunhill’s Tanshell finish—specifically, the early, mid-century Tanshell. These pipes featured a craggy sandblast and a light, natural stain, but they were also seasoned and oil cured prior to finishing, much like Dunhill’s early- to mid-century pipes. This Old Church, produced during Taylor’s tenure at the helm of Ashton, already shows off an impressive patina, which natural finish pipes of its kind are well known for, and which helps create an enjoyable contrast effect due to its elevated prominence in the troughs and grooves of its sandblast. It also features a nice, sterling silver army mount.

The condition is good. As mentioned, the pipe already has a significant patina, as well as some bowl darkening from being smoked hot (the chamber is sound though). It also shows some rim darkening, especially on the inner rim.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g