Astleys Smooth Rhodesian 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 have a funny feeling this pipe was made by Charatan. If not Charatan, then James Upshall, but I’d lean toward the former. The reason to consider either is that the shape, while appearing quite unassuming, is in fact very distinctive—starting rim the rim much like a Rhodesian, but instead of broadening out and then tapering back in again, its bowl walls remain almost parallel. Charatan had a shape exactly like it, which it called the Winston (possibly a reference to Churchill and his signature hat), with the shape code “323.” If it’s not a Charatan, it’s more likely to be James Upshall, as Barnes and Jones did plenty of renditions of shapes made famous by their former employer. Aside from that, it’s nicely grained, very lightweight, and generally a great English pipe.

The condition is very good. Some minor inner rim darkening and one small nick on the rim, though superficial at most.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g