Ben Wade Ovation 21 Rusticated Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

While Ben Wade was a historic British pipe brand, for a time during the 1970s, production of Ben Wade pipes was contracted out to one of Danish pipe-making’s superstars: Preben Holm. Though he would tragically pass away at the age of 42, Holm was one of the pioneering figures in the ‘Danish design’ movement in 20th century pipe-making, a movement that still dominates the high-grade pipe scene. By hand-shaping his pipes on a belt sander, Holm was able to make the most of the patterns of grain hidden within briar, creating spectacular works of pipe art that looked just as good as they smoked. Owing to Holm’s untimely passing, his pipes are even more highly sought after than they were during his lifetime.

This Ben Wade is certainly different from what I’m used to. Granted, I’m used to both English-style Ben Wades and to Danish-style Ben Wades (made by Preben Holm), but this one looks almost Italian. My research tells me that these were still made in England but, like GBD’s Prince of Wales sub-brand, it has a distinctly Italian look in the form of a stony partial rustication and a swirling acrylic stem. It’s pretty nice, too, not to mention lightweight. I guess now I’ve seen everything.

-J.M.

The condition is great. Some very minor scratches, but on the whole, it doesn’t look to have been smoked much at all.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g