JOHN REDMAN Aristocrat Superman

England

Judging by its design features, this pipe, manufactured by the London-based John Redman company, reflects trends in the pipe-making world of the second half of the 20th century; we would date it to the 1960s or 1970s.

Just as Charatan’s “Make Selected” is the second-highest grade after “Supreme”, Aristocrat pipes are positioned in the manufacturer’s catalogues immediately below the most valuable and striking Redman’s Royal. However, within the Aristocrat family there were several distinct sub-varieties based on size and design features: Aristocrat Giants Superman (the largest), Aristocrat Superman (not quite as extremely large, but still of very notable dimensions), and various Aristocrat Leather Covered and Aristocrat Meerschaum Lined models (their features are clear from the names).

Interestingly, the catalogues offer Giants Superman and Superman pipes exclusively in classic shapes, whereas in this case we see a rather free and innovative design for its time. Such freedom in design was usually reserved for the finest craftsmen.

Pipe markings: “ARISTOCRAT \ LONDON MADE”, “John Redman \ SUPERMAN \ ENGLAND”
Length 15.5 cm (6.1″)
Bowl height 3.7 cm (1.46″)
Outside diameter 4.7 cm (1.85″)
Chamber diameter 2.2 cm (0.87″)
Chamber depth 3.1 cm (1.22″)
Weight 55 g

Briar, vulcanite stem, no filter.

The pipe has been thoroughly cleaned, polished, sanitised, and is now ready for a new life.