Ferndown Reo 3 Star Smooth Panel w/ Silver Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

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. After leaving Dunhill, Les and Dolly began making their own pipes, with their combined knowledge and experience, yielding pipes of a quality that, arguably, exceeded even that of their former employer. Ferndown pipes are highly coveted by pipe smokers due to their superlative craftsman(and woman!)ship, being constructed from high-grade, oil-cured briar, hand cut ebonite, and, in many cases, sterling silver or solid gold ornamentation turned by Les himself. 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.

Having worked in Dunhill’s finishing department for many years, Dolly Wood had an especially discerning eye for grain. When she and Les Wood started making their own pipes, it was Dolly that decided which of the stummels Les had turned were fit to be left smooth, and which would be sandblasted or rusticated. As a result, around 90% of the pipes Les and Dolly made across their career were given the latter treatment, with the majority of those being “Barked”—i.e., given the Woods’ signature, ultrafine rustication. The remaining 10% were left smooth; the Root was given a light, natural smooth finish; the Tudor Root was orange-brown; and the Reo was a deep burgundy.

This Ferndown is an example of the Reo and, looking at it, it’s not hard to see why Dolly saved it from the “Barking” process. One of Les’s signature, stout English “foursquare” panel renditions, each of the bowl’s sides shows off a remarkable consistency of flame grain, even beneath the Reo’s relatively reserved tones. This is paired with a hand-cut vulcanite mouthpiece and one of Les’s own, hand-turned sterling silver collars, completing the design as a quintessential Ferndown pipe.

The condition is very good. Minor inner rim darkening and a few small scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.6″ / 167.6mm

Bowl Width: 0.88 / 22.35mm

Bowl Depth: 1.75″ / 44.45mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 66g