GBD Prehistoric 1626 Sandblasted Scoop 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.

Out of all the classic Anglo-French factory makes, GBD had probably the most diverse selection of shapes. In its early decades, GBD pipes were very much like their counterparts but, as the 20th century progressed, there were more and more shapes that wouldn’t look out of place in the catalogs of a Danish make, such as Stanwell—and that’s not even counting the Unique series by Horry Jamieson et al. This 1626, for example, has a “scooping” figure that, at first, doesn’t look too far from a Zulu, or a diplomat. But, upon closer inspection, one discovers its elliptical bowl, not unlike that of an opera, except rotated 90 degrees (and with a conical chamber). It’s not a GBD shape that we see very often though, as GBD did make so many shapes across its lifetime, I find myself saying that about one of the company’s pipes just about every month or two.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and slight residual stem oxidation.

Details:

Length: 5.3″ / 134.6mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 / 21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.23″ / 31.24mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g