Willmer Straight Grain AAAA XL Smooth Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

H. Willmer and Sons was an English pipe workshop founded at some point in the mid-20th century and closed in the mid-2000s. Harold Willmer himself was the brother of Dan Tennyson, one of Charatan’s freehand carvers, and would, according to Ken Barnes, often buy bowls from Charatan’s freehand workshop, which would be subsequently finished by Willmer’s craftsmen. In addition to these pipes, Willmer also manufactured more traditional briars, which were also made by hand.

Thus far, the highest grade Willmer we’ve had come through our trade-in program has been Straight Grain AAA. It’s nice to see, then, an example of the workshop’s second-highest grade in person: the Straight Grain AAAA. This one is a thoroughly English freehand, in the mold that Charatan established in the late 1950s. Taking the form of a bell-like, quarter-bent Dublin, the pipe is distinguished not only by its promised grain patterns, but also by its subtly faceted sides. It’s also a very large pipe, even by Willmer’s standards, coming in at around 7 inches in length.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and minor handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 7″ / 177.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.98 / 24.89mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 2.8oz / 80g