Hilson Vintage 426 Smooth Diplomat Estate Briar Pipe, Dutch 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.

From what I’ve been able to gather, Hilson’s Vintage line revisited some of the make’s classic designs from the 20th century. Some were very traditional, others were quite modern, with a definite Danish influence. This 426 combines a little bit of both. One can see the trusty Anglo-French diplomat in its shaping, but also one might see a little bit of Scandinavia in it, especially with its rounded base and sharp, volcano-like walls. The grain isn’t bad either, which is something else I’ve noticed on the Vintage line.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening and a few small scratches around the bowl.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.13″ / 28.70mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g