Kennett Pipe c. 1930s Smooth Fluted Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

The so-called “Kennett Pipe” appears to have been made by (or perhaps for) J.A. Kennett, Ltd., a British company in the early 20th century. The reason it’s called the “Kennett Pipe” and is not simply a Kennett pipe is that the name also referred to the design itself, as seen here. Not unlike the Doodler created by Tracy Mincer, the bowl features a series of hollowed out sections, presumably to aid in heat dispersion (another consequence being a featherweight stature). J.A. Kennett even had the design patented. Based on advertisements, it would also seem that these pipes were made in the interwar years.

It’s a fascinating thing, and certainly a piece of pipe history. In particular, it belongs to an aspect of pipe history far less studied these days, that being technical innovations (as with stingers, condensers, buttons, and the like).

For a pipe of its age, the condition is really good. Some inner rim darkening and slight scratches around the bowl (though I think one of these is simply a worn out fill).

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm

Bowl Depth: 1.37″ / 34.79mm

Weight: 0.7oz / 22g