Design Berlin Pipe of the Year 2013 Smooth Cup and Saucer Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked, 9mm

Description

Design Berlin was German pipe company and was, for several decades, the number two best-selling pipe company in Germany after Vauen. Founded in 1948 as Pfeifenstudio Hartmann by Hubert Hartmann, the company adopted the name Design Berlin and the lowercase “db” logo in 1975 as part of a modernization push. In 2019, Design Berlin finally closed after over 70 years in continuous operation.

Just like its long-time rival Vauen, Design Berlin offered a limited edition, Jahrespfeife, or “pipe of the year” in English, for at least a couple of decades. Each one took on a unique form and, again, like Vauen, such pipes were typically bold, adventurous, and overall rather forward-thinking. One of my personal favorites among the Design Berlin Jahrespfeifen was, however, also something of an homage, it seems, one whose basic shape echoed a rather iconic genre of pipes from around 5 decades earlier. Fans of English pipes will know that I am, of course, referring to Charatan’s “cup and saucer” pipes, first designed by a young Barry Jones during the make’s Reuben era, and which continued to be rather prominent during the Lane era. With its flattened base and vessel-like upper bowl, it does appear that this Design Berlin took a fair bit of inspiration from the English in that regard—they certainly wouldn’t be the first.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. It is chambered to allow for the use of 9mm filters if desired.

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g