GBD Prestige Smokers Haven Limited Edition Smooth Apple w/ Perspex 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.

The historic pipe retailer Smokers’ Haven had a very close relationship with GBD in the 20th century, not unlike the relationship between Herman Lane’s Lane Ltd. and Charatan (though Smokers’ Haven didn’t go so far as to purchase GBD outright). When Smokers’ Haven’s founder Joseph Zieve was stationed in England during the Second World War, he used his business acumen to develop a number of connections with the greats of traditional Anglo-French pipe making. One of these greats was GBD, so when Zieve finally returned to America after the war, Smokers’ Haven became one of the most prominent retailers of GBD pipes in the United States. This particular GBD was in fact made specially for Smokers’ Haven and is, fittingly, one of the make’s higher grades, the Prestige. In classic GBD fashion, it wears a simple, light brown finish (over a wealth of bird’s-eye) and is fitted with one of their famous Perspex stems. Based on the stamping, this will have been made prior to 1980 and the Cadogan Investments merger. Perhaps in 1965, for Smokers’ Haven’s 25th anniversary? Perhaps someone better in the know will be able to fill me in on that.

The condition is Very good. Some rim darkening and a couple of very small scratches on the bowl.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.49″ / 37.84mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g