GBD (Pre-1980s) Elysees Sandblasted Dublin (Estate)

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, ultimately became one of the standard bearers of 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.

Taking its name from a rather luxurious locale within central Paris, the Elysees was a line of pipes manufactured in GBD’s Saint-Claude campus, being marketed—as was typical of French-made GBDs—to the company’s customers on the European mainland. This one takes the form of a classic lightweight Dublin, with an especially craggy sandblast and a reserved brown top-coat. As this is a French production GBD, and as it features the make’s famous metal “GBD” rondelle inlaid in the stem, it would seem to be a pre-1980s production pipe, made prior to the Cadogan Investments merger of the early 1980s.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening and finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.58″ / 40.13mm

Weight: 1.0oz / 30g