Ferndown Reo (*) Smooth Bulldog with Silver (Estate)

About this pipe:

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 particular pipe is an example of the Reo, taking the form of a classic English bulldog, one of Les’s favored shapes. Fitted with a hand-cut black vulcanite mouthpiece, the pipe sports a thick, sterling silver collar turned by the master silversmith himself, cementing its very traditional English aesthetic.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening and a couple of very small scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 5.32″ / 135.1mm

Chamber Width: 0.71″ / 18.03mm

Chamber Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Bowl Height: 1.79″ / 45.46mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 42g