Astleys of London Smooth Churchwarden 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.

This particular pipe is a very rare example of an Astleys churchwarden. If memory serves, I think I could count the number of these I’ve come across on one hand. It’s a beautiful, pipe, dressed in a brown sugar stain that highlights the cross-grain patterns that swirl around its bowl. It is also extremely lightweight, at a mere 22 grams.

The condition is excellent. There’s a little finish fading on the rim, but it’s minor. The pipe has been well preserved.

 

Details:

Length: 7.4″ / 187.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.27″ / 32.25mm

Weight: 0.7oz / 22g