Prince of Wales Rusticated Bent Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, became a maker most associated with classic ‘British’ pipes. Founded in 1850 by the French trio Ganneval, Bondier & Donninger, the brand was bought by English company Oppenheimer at the beginning of the 20th century, who opened factories in London and Paris to meet an increasing demand for the make’s high-quality and highly desirable pipes. Prince of Wales was a sub-brand of GBD, one that – oddly enough – often lean towards the Italian schools of pipe design.

When I first saw this pipe, I thought it might be a Don Carlos, rather than GBD’s Prince of Wales make. But, as mentioned, the latter did lean towards Italian-inspired designs. This one is rusticated in a similar fashion so some of the older Savinelli lines, or to Bruto Sordini’s contemporary Don Carlos creations, with which similarities in shaping are also evident. In any case, it’s a lovely, tall Rhodesian with a great hand-feel.

I’m not sure how long it’s been since GBD produced the Prince of Wales make, but I think it’s been a good while. This one is, somehow, unsmoked, with a factory-original bowl coating to help ease in its first smokes.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″

Bowl Width: 20.5mm

Bowl Depth: 1.9″

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g