Astleys Smooth Chimney Estate Briar Pipe

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.

This Astleys is certainly a very different design. I figure it must be hand made by an artisan by the Upshall boys or Les and Dolly Wood, as I don’t recognize it from any Dunhill or Charatan shape chart. In fact, the combination of the gentle curve of the shank and stem with the stack bowl reminds me of the Danish ‘swan’ shapes produced by icons such as Sven Knudsen and Bent ‘Benner’ Nielsen. The grain is similarly distinct, being a beautiful bouquet of bird’s-eye grain, emphasized by a golden contrast stain.

The condition is great. The finish on the rim is ever so slightly faded, but this is a superficial imperfection. The vulcanite stem is excellently preserved, including the Astleys ‘A’ stamp.

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 2.21″ / 56.13mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g