GBD Pre-1980s Collector Fantasy 9608 Cherrywood Estate Briar Pipe, English 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.

As far as traditional, Anglo-French pipe design went, if you could think of a shape, GBD had a version of it. At the same time, many GBD shapes were somewhat difficult to fit into those same, traditional, Anglo-French categories, being similar to the classics, but also quite different. This cherrywood rendition, the shape the 9608, is one such example. The cherrywood itself has its origins in pipes made from cherry wood itself, though it ultimately became a common shape when briar became a more popular medium (just as the cutty and Belge had originated in clays). The 9608, on the other hand, featured a decidedly tall bowl, long shank, and short saddle stem, none of which were typical for briar cherrywoods of its time (nor indeed cherry wood cherrywoods). This one is even more distinctive owing to its stature, belonging to the oversized Collector grade, with a figure almost reminiscent of a beer stein. Based on the nomenclature, this one will be a pre-1980s, pre-Cadogan Investments make, though the pipe’s inclusion of a signature GBD perspex stem is another good indicator of that.

The condition is very good. Chamber slightly over-reamed and some scratches on the top of the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.0″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.97 / 24.63mm

Bowl Depth: 1.80″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g