GBD Unique Straight Grain Smooth Walrus 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.

GBD’s Unique series are among the most rare and coveted from the Anglo-French make, which might seem surprising given GBD’s status as one of the foremost Anglo-French pipe companies. Following the boom in “freehand” pipes in the early post-war decades, however, GBD was among a number of Anglo-French stalwarts to create their own answer to this shift in consumer preferences, alongside the likes of Charatan, Comoy’s, Dunhill, and others. In the case of GBD, their Unique freehands were largely carved by Horace “Horry” Jamieson, formerly of Barling during its “family era” and a legend of British pipe making in his own right. This Unique appears to lean into the post-war Danish freehand movement even more than others I’ve seen, taking the form of what is uncannily reminiscent of the Walrus shape created by Sven Knudsen circa 1960. It also happens to be a rare, Straight Grain grade Unique, a GBD designation that preceded the rise of the Danish greats but whose nomenclature and corresponding referent only enhances its resonance with the work of Knudsen et al.

The condition is very good. Some wear to the inner rim and slight handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 6.3″ / 160.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.11mm

Bowl Depth: 1.24″ / 31.49mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g