Astleys Rusticated Oom Paul Sitter 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 Dolly Wood of Ferndown, 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.

Though he didn’t make them often, I happen to know that Barry Jones, of James Upshall fame, produced Oom Paul shapes just like this one, so I’d be surprised if this wasn’t his handiwork. It has all the right proportions as far as the shape goes, including a good, deep chamber, and the rustication gives it a nice, slightly weathered, old world aesthetic.

The condition is good. Rim darkening and minor finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.79″ / 45.46mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g