Longchamp Leather Wrapped Two Pipe Set w/ Case Estate Briar Pipes, Unsmoked

Description

There are also examples of luxury goods companies that have engaged in the manufacture of tobacco products, such as Hermes or S.T. Dupont. There are are also examples of companies in the tobacco industry expanding their operations into the luxury goods market, with the most famous examples likely being Dunhill and Davidoff. Longchamp is an example of the latter, though to many today, the idea of Longchamp making anything of the sort might strike as strange. After all, for the last 50 years, Longchamp has been a major name in the world of French high-fashion. But this was not always the case, and indeed it was our own corner of culture that led—in a roundabout way—to Longchamp’s ascent.

The Longchamp brand was created by Jean Cassegrain, a Parisian who inherited his family’s tobacconist shop in the early post-war years. At that time, good briar was scarce, meaning the pipes Cassegrain was able to procure for his shop were seconds-quality at best. While pipe makers elsewhere overcame this issue by significantly slimming down their designs, or utilizing shank extensions cut from bamboo, Bakelite, and other materials, Cassegrain’s solution was to team up with local leatherworkers, cladding his pipes in a far more aesthetically pleasing garb. Yet, just as with the Danish and English innovations, Cassegrain’s leather-clad pipes remained popular even once good briar began making its way back to European pipe makers. The only problem left for Cassegrain: his name. It was already taken by another Cassegrain for their own venture. Thus, Longchamp was born.

Longchamp and its leather-clad pipes enjoyed a significant popularity in the early post-war decades. Even Elvis Presley was enamored by them. Cassegrain took this opportunity to broaden his horizons, creating lines of other leather goods for the luxury market, including wallets and handbags. Unfortunately for us pipe smokers, the latter proved so successful that they eclipsed Longchamp’s pipes. As sales of pipes dwindled across the world in the 1970s, Longchamp scaled down production for its inaugural product, with the last Longchamp pipes manufactured in 1978.

Here we find one of Longchamp’s more upmarket wares as far as pipes were concerned: a two pipe set comprised of a leather-clad prince and billiard, held snugly inside a Longchamp leather travel case.

Both pipes are completely unsmoked, with just a slight bit of scuffing on the prince’s coat and stem.

Prince

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm

Bowl Depth: 1.18″ / 29.97mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g

Billiard

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.50″ / 38.10mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g