Charatan’s Make First Lane Era (1961-5) Special Extra Large Smooth Panel Acorn Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

While Dunhill may be Britain’s most famous pipe brand, Charatan is not only older, but has the honor of being the first to have made its pipes entirely in-house. ‘”Charatan’s Make” referred to the fact that, at a time when other pipe companies were sourcing stummels and stems carved from other companies before assembling them in their factories and workshops, Charatan made every part of their pipes on the Charatan premises. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe-making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni (who went on to work at Dunhill, before leaving again to start the Sasieni make), Dennis Marshall (previously of Barling, later of Milville), Dan Tennison, Stan Haney (later of Ashby Hall), and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones (later of James Upshall).

While Charatan remains famous for its straight grain pipes, there was still a place within the make’s grading schemes for other kinds of beautiful briar patterns. The Special was one such grade which, during the legendary Lane era (to which this pipe belongs), boasted “Perfection in graining in a natural finish.” Sometimes this was superior cross-grain, sometimes bird’s-eye, and sometimes flame grain. I expect this particular Charatan attained its qualification thanks to its rather exquisite, and remarkably consistent, flame grain patterning, which its carver managed to massage into an Extra Large and quite stunning, paneled acorn sitter hybrid. As for dating, the Lane Ltd. “L” stamp on the bowl, the “MADE BY HAND” stamp (without any mention of the City of London) also on the bowl, as well as the pipe’s inclusion of Herman Lane’s proprietary Double Comfort mouthpiece, would indicate this pipe as being from the first Lane era of 1961-5—a notable favorite era among collectors of fine English pipes.

The condition is great. Very minor inner rim darkening and some residual oxidation on the mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 7.1″ / 180.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.90 / 22.86mm

Bowl Depth: 1.61″ / 40.89mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 66g