Astleys of London Rusticated Liverpool Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

Along with the Canadian, the Liverpool is one of my all-time favorite traditional pipe shapes. Part of it is the functionalist in me: it’s simple, easy to handle, and a shorter stem means much less in the way of maintenance. Additionally, they’re often very lightweight, as this one one is, making them easy clenchers. As for who made this one, it’s difficult to know for certain. But the rusticated finish – absent from the majority of the house styles of Astleys pipe suppliers – makes me think this might just be a later James Upshall piece.

The condition is good. There’s some rim darkening, especially on the back rim, but the finish is otherwise without significant blemishes, and the pipe’s vulcanite stem is free from chatter (even the Astleys “A” logo has been perfectly preserved!).

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Weight: 1.0oz / 30g