Ferndown REO 2 Star Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Ferndown pipes were made by the legendary British pipe-maker Leslie ‘Les’ John Wood, along with his wife Dolly. Both Les and Dolly previously worked for Dunhill, where Les developed his skills and reputation as Britain’s premier pipe silversmith, as well as one of its premier pipe carvers. Ferndown pipes are highly coveted by pipe-smokers due to their superlative craftsman(and woman!)ship, whose bowls are oil-cured and which typically feature beautiful silverwork. Sadly, Les and Dolly retired from pipe-making in 2016, making Ferndown pipes rather scarce – especially given how difficult it is to get their owners to part with them.

This Ferndown was made as a 2006 pipe of the year for the Spanish Andalusian Pipe Club (APC). I must say – lucky them! It’s not every pipe club that gets a chance to have their annual pipe made by Les and Dolly Wood. True to their style, it’s a large, full-figured Dublin with an ever so slight bend, giving it a Zulu-esque character. The pipe is dressed in the red-brown Reo finish, and features a signature silver collar of Les’s making, separating the bowl from the pipe’s hand cut cumberland stem.

The condition is very good. There’s a little rim darkening and some minor handling marks, but the pipe has been well cared for by its previous (presumably Andalusian) owner.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.3mm

Bowl Depth: 1.73″ / 43.94mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g