GBD Prodigy Handhewn 1 Panel 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.

GBD’s Handhewn was a rare mixed finish offering from the venerable Franco-English make. Hand hewing is a term used to indicate the chopping of a material, such as wood or stone, with manual tools, and as can be seen here, in GBD’s case it denoted a hand-rustication that was applied in part to an otherwise smooth finish. According to GBD catalogs this was intended to provide a contrast effect, rather than to hide briar flaws. I’d say the effect worked as intended, especially when paired with a contrast stain like the one this pipe also wears. The “Prodigy” qualification makes this pipe even rarer, as this denoted limited-production over-sized iterations of existing series.

The condition is great. Some rim darkening at the rear and some minor handling marks. Based on the model and the brass GBD rondelle, this pipe looks to have been made prior to the Cadogan Investments merger in 1980.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g