Ashton 1990 Pebble Grain XXX Sandblasted Panel Pot 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.

Bill Taylor, who founded and ran Ashton pipes from 1983 until his passing in 2009, was a legend in the industry, not least because of his sandblasted finishes. The Pebble Grain was one such finish. Developed by Taylor as an homage and an alternative to the Dunhill Shell Briar line, these pipes underwent a patented oil curing method before receiving their signature deep blast and dark burgundy stain—making them closer to the Dunhill pipes of the first half of the 20th century than Dunhill’s own pipes during and after the second half. Taylor’s pipes were not only remarkably craggy and tactile, they were also masterful in their ability to bring the briar’s growth rings into relief, resulting in what are colloquially known as ring grain blasts. This particular Ashton, from 1990, has a fascinating texture to it, almost reminiscent of strawberry wood, though I’m fairly certain Bill only used briar. The shape is quite unique for Ashton, too, taking the form of a very French paneled bent pot.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.93 / 23.62mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g