Astleys Rusticated Straight Pot 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 Astleys is a very traditional English pot and, strangely enough, looks a lot like the saddle pot shapes Dunhill has made over the years. Unlike Dunhill’s pots, however, this one is rusticated, with the closest relevant comparison I can think of is the finish James Upshall made later on in the make’s history. The pipe also has a distinctly wide bowl, which should handle mixture blends especially well.

The condition is very good. There’s some rim darkening, but it blends with the finish to the point where it isn’t too noticeable.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.24″ / 31.49mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g