Charatan’s Make Lane Era Executive Panel Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

While Dunhill may be Britain’s most famous pipe brand, Charatan is not only older, but has the honor of being the first to have made its pipes entirely in-house. ‘Charatan’s Make’ referred to the fact that, at a time when other pipe companies were sourcing stummels and stems carved from other companies before assembling them in their factories and workshops, Charatan made every part of their pipes on the Charatan premises. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe-making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall fame.

As far as English pipes go, Charatan was a true pioneer, and in more than one sense. Both Frederick Charatan and his son (and eventual sucessor) Reuben Charatan were early proponents of straight grained pipes as the pinnacle of the craft, and it was under Reuben’s tenure that Charatan opened up its first, dedicated freehand workshop at the end of the 1950s. When Herman Lane entered the picture, he took these aspects of the Charatan make and amplified them like never before, with Charatan’s hand-turned pipes ultimately becoming some of the most prestigious (and pricey) briars in the world. This pipe, from the later years of Lane’s stewardship, is one of Charatan’s high-grade Executive line freehands, which the company described as “A flawless hand cut straight grained pipe, distinguished by its honey color which accentuates the tight, unique graining.”

The condition is good. Some wear and darkening to the inner rim, and minor handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.51″ / 38.35mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g