Astleys Smooth Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Ashton, Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood and Dolly Wood of Ferndown, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very best of British pipes.

I never got a chance to visit Astleys while it was still a brick and mortar on Jermyn Street, so I’ve no idea what the shelves will have looked like inside. But, having handled many Astleys pipes over the years, I’d imagine it would be like being the proverbial kid in a candy store. As always, this Astleys is a beautiful specimen, taking the form of a fairly lightweight, group 4 billiard, with bight bird’s-eye lit up by a golden brown stain.

The condition is good. Minor handling marks and inner rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.29″ / 32.76mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g