GBD Lacuzon Smooth Demi-Warden Prince Estate Briar Pipe, French Estates

Description

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, became a maker most associated with classic ‘British’ pipes. Founded in 1850 by the French trio Ganneval, Bondier & Donninger, the brand was bought by English company Oppenheimer at the beginning of the 20th century, who opened factories in London and Paris to meet an increasing demand for the make’s high-quality and highly desirable pipes. Partly owing to the make’s inventive, yet traditional shapes, and partly due to the high standards of their production, GBD pipes are particularly coveted by collectors, as well as those who simply appreciate classic, well-made smoking instruments.

I’ve always said that, in addition to being exceptionally well made briars, one of my favorite things about GBD pipes is just how many different, often highly distinctive, designs they put out over the many centuries the make existed. As an estates seller, this means that, at any moment, a GBD could come in through the trade-in pipeline that I’ve simply never seen before. This is one such example: the Lacuzon. I suspect it was named after the 17th century military leader Claude Prost, for whom “Lacuzon” was a nom du guerre of sorts. This would make sense given the design of this GBD, which features a vulcanite military mount. As it’s a French-made GBD, it will have been manufactured prior to the early 1980s and the Cadogan Investments merger, making it all the more interesting.

The condition is very good. Some darkening around the inner rim.

 

Details:

Length: 8″ / 203.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.22″ / 30.98mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 34g