Astleys Tudor Rose Smooth Zulu 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, Charatan Dunhill, Ferndown, and James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

It appears to be consensus that the Tudor Rose was a sub-brand of sorts for Astleys, or even a seconds line, though I’ve not been able to find anything conclusive. I would assume they were made back when the Bentley family ran the shop, as they are stamped a little differently to the Astleys pipes made later on. If this is a second, it’s one of the nicest I’ve seen, taking the form of a very classical, ultra-lightweight Zulu. Perhaps the Tudor Rose was more like a Sasieni Royal Stuart or Mayfair—beautifully shaped and grained, just not quite ready to be a Four Dot.

The condition is very good. Some minor inner rim charring, slight finish fading, and slight handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.40″ / 35.56mm

Weight: 0.9oz / 28g