Willmer Extra Grain AB Smooth Freehand Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

H. Willmer and Sons was an English pipe workshop founded at some point in the mid-20th century and closed in the mid-2000s. Harold Willmer himself was the brother of Dan Tennyson, one of Charatan’s freehand carvers, and would, according to Ken Barnes, often buy bowls from Charatan’s freehand workshop, which would be subsequently finished by Willmer’s craftsmen. In addition to these pipes, Willmer also manufactured more traditional briars, which were also made by hand.

Whether or not this particular Willmer had its bowl sourced from Charatan, the style is very much in keeping with the “English” freehand that Charatan inaugurated. Rather than the wild, naturalistic freehands of Erik Nording and Preben Holm, or indeed the plump neoclassical shapes of S. Bang or Former, the design is one of a relatively reserved (though quite large) saddle billiard, with small furrows and divots here and there. While subtle, these slight design deviations show just how much a slight deviation in design can provide a wealth of character.

The condition is very good. Some wear to the rim and minor finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 2.05″ / 52.07mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 66g