Hilson (Belgium era) Bolero 289 Partially Sandblasted Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Other Estates

Description

Hilson is something of an outlier in the pipe world, in that it is a successful company not from England, Denmark, France, the USA, or indeed any of the countries typically associated with pipe-making. Instead, Hilson is a pipe company that began in Belgium. Hilson was founded by the Hillen family in Bree in the late 19th century and went on to achieve considerable success during the mid-20th, before being bought out by Dutch company Gubbels. Given its geographical location, it should be no surprise that Hilson’s designs bear a mixture of French, German, and Danish influence. Before his passing, legendary artisan Rainer Barbi also designed pipes for the Belgian make.

It’s always interesting to come across pipes that were made before their brand was sold on to another company, especially when that sale dramatically changed said brand. The world of English pipes is full of examples, most notably those that were subject to the Cadogan Investments mergers, as well as lesser-known names like Ben Wade, which originally came out of Leeds, before being purchased by Lane Ltd. Hilson is an example of such from over in Europe. It began as a Belgian make but, during the later 20th century, it was purchased by the Dutch company Gubbels, and Hilson pipes have been made in the Netherlands ever since. As with the Ben Wade example, Hilson pipes were very different after that point—good, but still different. This, on the other hand, is one of the “original” Hilsons, from the Bolero line. As one can see, there’s a notable Danish influence, though one that alludes to the early Danish greats of the 1960s rather than those who came after. Essentially a billiard rendition, the pipe features an almost pencil-thin shank, a distinctive, push mount and flared ebonite mouthpiece, and a mixed finish of smooth and sandblasted sections. The latter was one of the main selling points of the Bolero way back when, whose marketing materials boasted “Deep grain smooth spot[s] combined with a russet-hued, jewel-like rugged briar”. As with the early post-war Danish briars, it’s also supremely lightweight (something also mentioned in its advertisements), making for an easy clencher.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening and minor finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g