Peterson Hand Made Smooth Pot Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates

Description

Peterson pipes generally need no introduction, but just in case you’re unfamiliar: in 1876, a Latvian named Charles Peterson immigrated to Ireland and was hired making pipes in a workshop owned by Frederick and George Kapp. After rising through the ranks to become head craftsman, Peterson bought into the Kapp’s business, which was renamed, Kapp & Peterson (K&P). During this time, Peterson himself applied for several patents for pipe designs, including the world-famous Peterson’s System. Since then, Peterson has become one of the most recognizable names in pipe smoking and continues to produce high quality pipes from their headquarters in Dublin.

Since the earliest days of the craft, all pipes have been made by hand. This was the case 200 years ago and it will remain the case until automation is able to capture the entirety of the pipe making process. But some pipes are more handmade than others. The precise meaning of the term is a long running debate within pipe circles, one that isn’t worth diving too deep into here but, in the context of Peterson pipes, it typically signifies pipes of a high-grade whose manufacture has gone a step beyond the norm. Handmade Peterson pipes, for example, include the old Giant line, the Plateaux, or Plato, and, as most commonly seen today, the House Pipe. But there have been other Peterson pipes that don’t fit into any of these categories, pipes very occasionally crafted by Peterson’s master carvers, such as Paddy Larrigan. This pipe is a little bit of a mystery, and may well be one of the latter. Like the Peterson House Pipes, it is simply stamped “HAND-MADE,” but it lacks the larger proportions that are a signature of the House Pipe (after all, House Pipes get their name from time spent alone with a large bowl, such as might be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home). Then again, it could be a long-retired House Pipe shape, as the range was much larger many decades ago than it is now. In any case, as a thick, wide pot shape, the pipe is beautifully carved, with extra attention having been paid to bird’s-eye patterns, and dressed in the natural blonde finish typical for Peterson’s high-grade wares.

The condition is very good. Minor inner rim darkening, finish fading, and slightly faded (though still legible) nomenclature.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.91 / 23.11mm

Bowl Depth: 1.43″ / 36.32mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g