20th Century Smooth Opera Skater Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Flipping through my trusty copy of Wilczak & Colwell’s Who Made That Pipe? suggests that the “20th Century” make was associated with an English entity known as “James Jack.” I can only assume that the latter was a tobacconist, with the pipe made for them by an Italian manufacturer. I suppose, in a way, it’s a little funny to have a pipe like this have such a name, as the opera shape is one that was, after a brief period of popularity, largely forgotten after the mid-1900s. Yet in recent years it has seen a resurgence, especially among artisans, with the idea of an oval bowl being re-imagined by figures such as Rolando Negoita, J. Mouton, or Pavel Holub’s Eclesias Pipes. This one is a little innovative too, design-wise, combining the opera’s signature chamber with the pointed fore typically seen on the traditional skater.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim wear, but overall quite remarkably preserved for what I’d assume is a pretty old pipe.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.93 / 23.62mm

Bowl Depth: 0.91″ / 23.11mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g