Barling’s Make Family Era YOW Fossil EL 526 Acorn Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Barling and Sons was originally founded in 1812 by Benjamin Barling and began as a family business making silver-adorned meerschaum pipes. In the early 20th century, however, the Barling family began to produce what the brand is today most famous for – expertly made briar pipes.

The “Fossil” was what the Barling family ultimately came to call their sandblasted pipes. And while sandblasted finishes are often overlooked in favor of smooth ones, Barling sandblasts are, like early Dunhill or Ashton, particularly cherished by pipe smokers and makers alike. “Family era” Barlings, made by the Barling family themselves, are especially coveted as far as sandblasted pipes go, on account of their tendency to bring out impressively craggy, captivating textures from briar’s natural grain patterns. As has been documented by pipe historians such as Jonathan Guss, Tad Gage, and Jesse Silver, and as our Barling pipes Dating Guide summarizes, this very traditional acorn is identifiable as a pre-1960 “family era,” or “pre-transition” pipe from its Barling’s Make nomenclature and three-digit shape code. It is furthermore an extra large size Fossil, at least relative to the proportions of early 20th century pipes.

The condition is very good for the pipe’s age. Some darkening and a couple of spots of char on the rim, and some finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.48″ / 37.59mm

Weight: 0.9oz / 26g