Astleys Sandblasted Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, 9mm, 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, Ashton, 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.

It is often difficult to know which of England’s great pipe-makers created a particular Astleys pipe. For this one I have two hypotheses: the first is that it was made by Ashton, as it isn’t too far from a Pebble Grain in design; the other is that it is a James Upshall, but with a slight twist. As I’ve discussed in previous Upshall listings, the sandblasting for their pipes wasn’t done in-house, but was contracted to Bill Taylor at Ashton. Those would be my thoughts, but aside from that, it’s simply a very nice, traditional, saddle billiard, and a rare example of an Astleys pipe chambered for 9mm filters.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening. As mentioned, this Astleys is chambered for 9mm filters as standard, but should accommodate a non-filter of some variety adapter if preferred.

 

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.72″ / 18.28mm

Bowl Depth: 1.44″ / 36.57mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g