Charatan’s Make Selected Lane Era Large 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.

This particular Charatan is from the Lane era, during which Charatan was acquired by Herman Lane and produced what are considered to have been Charatan’s best pipes. From the nomenclature, it can also be determined that this pipe is from what is sometimes known as the ‘first Lane era,’ between 1961-1965. While Charatan began producing “freehand” pipes in the late Reuben era (as told by Ken Barnes), it is the Lane era where Charatan’s freehand workshop achieved its widest renown, and not without good reason. While vastly different from the Danish approach, this hand-turned Dublin rivals many of the pipes created at the same time just across the North Sea. Its bowl shows 360 degrees of consistent, tight straight grain, while its shank adds variety both through its faceted constitution and a partial sandblast.

The condition is very good. There’s some inner rim darkening, especially at the rear, and a few handling marks. Overall it’s held up well.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 1.21 / 30.73mm

Bowl Depth: 1.49″ / 37.84mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g