Astleys of London Smooth Pot 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 Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, 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 finest British pipes.

While this Astleys is a highly traditional shape, the proportions and stain make me think that it must have been made for the tobacconist by an artisan, rather than a factory. The closest match for the stain, to my mind, is Upshall’s walnut ‘P’, which here is rendered quite beautifully in a golden contrast pattern. While the pipe is a reasonable length, it is remarkably light, presumably due to excellent briar being used to make it.

The condition is great. The rim may have some minor darkening, but it also might just be a darker patch of the stain.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g