Charatan’s Make First Lane Era Special Extra Large Smooth Freehand Sitter 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, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall fame.

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, as in the case of this one, a beautiful bouquet of each. Based on the nomenclature, this Extra Large example to what is sometimes termed the “first Lane era”—i.e., the years immediately following the passing of Reuben Charatan, during which Herman Lane was at the company’s helm. These were also the years that saw Charatan’s freehand workshop ascend to the heights it is remembered for. In other words, it was pipes like this one that proved to the world just how Special Charatan was.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and slight handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.7″ / 170.1mm

Bowl Width: 1.01 / 25.65mm

Bowl Depth: 1.87″ / 47.49mm

Weight: 2.7oz / 78g