Astleys of London Smooth Straight Apple Estate Briar Pipe

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.

While it is a very traditional shape, I presume this Astleys was made by the artisan carvers Jones ansd Barnes at James Upshall. The main reason my estimation here is the stain; it is far closer to Upshall’s walnut ‘P’ finish than anything Dunhill or Charatan produced. In fact, it’s closer to the kinds of golden contrast stains seen prominently in the work of contemporary high grade solo carvers. It’s visually striking, and makes good use of the bird’s-eye patterns underneath, in the case of this one.

The condition is great. There is a tiny patch of inner rim char, but the pipe is otherwise remarkably preserved. Even the Astleys logo on its vulcanite stem remains.

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.4″ / 35.56mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g