GBD Sovereign 357 Smooth 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.

“Sovereign” has been a name used for a number of different GBD lines, some more worthy of the name than others. This one I would consider among the most deserving. A classic prince shape with the kind of straight grain patterns that I would have expected more from GBD’s renowned Pedigree grades, it is exemplary of the traditional, Anglo-French pipes that captivated pipe smokers for over a century—and which still captivate collectors today. As this is a French made GBD and features the make’s brass “GBD” stem inlay, it will be a pre-1980, pre-Cadogan Investments merger piece, making it all the more appealing.
Now that I think about it, a Sovereign prince is something of a tautology, but for a pipe this nice, I’ll allow it.

The condition is very good. Some minor inner rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.10″ / 27.94mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g