Astleys of London, Smooth Bent Diplomat Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates [SOLD OUT]

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.

This Astleys is a curious thing. If I did not already know that it is an Astleys, I would have guessed that it was a Sasieni, as it has a shape strongly reminiscent of Sasieni’s Moreton pipes. Either way, it’s a great pipe, and is indeed a genuine Astleys from during the Jermyn Street tobacconist’s heyday. A large, forward canted pot that also reminds of Castello’s 55, this Astley’s is dressed in a fairly light, golden brown stain that accentuates the bird’s-eye grain flowing around its bowl. Like the Moreton, this one feels especially good in the hand, too.

 

Details:

Length: 6″

Bowl Width: 22.9mm

Bowl Depth: 1.4″

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g