Gold Crown by GBD 9568 Sandblasted Diplomat Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, became a maker most associated with classic ‘British’ pipes. Founded in 1850 by the French trio Ganneval, Bondier & Donninger, the brand was bought by English company Oppenheimer at the beginning of the 20th century, who opened factories in London and Paris to meet an increasing demand for the make’s high-quality and highly desirable pipes. Partly owing to the make’s inventive, yet traditional shapes, and partly due to the high standards of their production, GBD pipes are particularly coveted by collectors, as well as those who simply appreciate classic, well-made smoking instruments. Gold Crown was a GBD sub-brand.

Like their contemporaries at Sasieni, GBD had a plethora of sub-brands, with the result being that it is often difficult to estimate the provenance of many an English make. Thankfully, many GBD sub-brands (again, much like Sasieni) were stamped with the same shape codes as their GBD-brand counterparts. This squat piece is indeed a GBD, rendered in GBD’s shape 9568. I’ve heard it described as a tomato, a scoop, an author, and all sorts, really, but I’d put it in the diplomat, or banker, camp.

The condition is fair. Darkening and general wear to the rim, and some finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 1.01 / 25.65mm

Bowl Depth: 1.06″ / 26.92mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g