Elwood (Ferndown) Dan Pipe Pipe of the Year 2001 Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Les Wood and Dolly Wood both began their careers in pipes working for Dunhill, with Les working in the silver mounting department, and Dolly working in the finishing department. While at Dunhill, both learned the fundamentals of making pipes, and after marrying and leaving the company, the two began to create pipes of their own. This led to the creation of L&JS Briars and, ultimately, the “Ferndown” make. It didn’t take long for the Ferndown name to become associated with some of the best British handmade pipes around, but when Dan Pipe approached the Woods about importing their pipes to Germany, a problem arose. As Les has recounted (see the MBSD interview with him for more), Dan Pipe’s management thought that German speakers would be able to pronounce “Ferndown,” so “Elwood” was eventually settled on as a substitute.

Ferndown had an especially close relationship with Dan Pipe, especially since the Woods were (and still are) good friends with Holger Frickert, a manager at the company at the time (and an esteemed artisan in his own right). One of the fruits of this relationship was Dan Pipe commissioning Ferndown (under the Elwood name) to create special, limited edition pipes for the German company, to mark certain occasions. These included Pipe of the Year and Christmas Pipe models, of which I’m relatively certain this is the former. As one would expect from such a pipe, it’s a beautiful specimen with plenty of extra trimmings, even for a Ferndown/Elwood. Not only does the pipe have a sterling silver spigot, turned by the master silversmith, himself, but it is also mounted with a sterling silver cap. It’s a little stubbier than the average L&JS Briars piece, though it retains the Woods’ signature heft, with a bulbous bowl housing a very generous chamber. As has become something of a custom between us, I did show this one to Leslie when we first received it. His response was as friendly and jovial as ever: “that’s very nice, even if I do say so myself.”

The condition is great. Some very light scratches on the rim. As this was made for the German market, it is chambered to allow for 9mm filters, whether of the activated charcoal, meerschaum, or balsa variety. It should also accommodate an adapter (not included) if unfiltered use is preferred.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.80″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g