GBD Bronze Velvet 549 Smooth Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, became a maker most associated with classic ‘British’ pipes. Founded in 1850 by the French trio Ganneval, Bondier & Donninger, the brand was bought by English company Oppenheimer at the beginning of the 20th century, who opened factories in London and Paris to meet an increasing demand for the make’s high-quality and highly desirable pipes. Partly owing to the make’s inventive, yet traditional shapes, and partly due to the high standards of their production, GBD pipes are particularly coveted by collectors, as well as those who simply appreciate classic, well-made smoking instruments.

One might consider naming a line of pipes after not one, but two luxurious materials—one metal, the other fabric—to be bordering on hubris, but as it turns out GBD’s Bronze Velvet lived up to its namesake(s). GBD themselves touted it as a “premium” pipe, and indeed the “ultimate GBD”, for which only the “choicest natural bowls” were used. And, while vulcanite was still the norm in Anglo-French pipes, and while GBD had only strayed from this norm with fan-favorite Perspex in the past, the use of a dazzling Lucite stem really did complement the blonde briar bowls just marvelously. The cherry on top, of course, is that the Bronze Velvet was a pre-1980 line, with this one being from the 1970s, based on the stamping and brass rondelle. This means it was produced before the consolidation of various Anglo-French pipe brands (including GBD) by Cadogan Investments, making pipes like this one even more appealing for collectors.

The condition is good. Some darkening and inner rim wear, and some small scratches on the stem, but nothing major.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.15″ / 29.21mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g