England, 1960s An exquisite example of the Charatan’s carvers art made in 1960s under the Ben Wade trade mark! Initially Ben Wade was an old good English family manufactory. Soon after the WWII the brand was acquired by Lane Ltd from USA, the producer of fantastic Charatan’s pipes at that time. And we’re pleased to…
Denmark The origin of the Jobey brand is a kind of a mystery. The most probably the company was founded in the beginning of the XX century, but there is a contradictory opinion about a mother country of Jobey pipes. Most sources believe Jobey was an English founded company switched soon to production in USA….
Denmark, 1960s A creature of young Preben Holm carved in the late 1960s, when his pipes were stamped with with the “Preben Holm” name and such grade numbers in a cirlce. At that time the artisan was not elder than 24 years and the era of fantastic success of his Danish Ben Wade pipes had…
Denmark “Søren” is the pre name of Søren Refbjerg Rasmussen (more known as Refbjerg) – famous Danish artisan and founder of the small company (8-12 craftsmen in 1970s). The very best pipes were finished by the carver himself and stamped “Refbjerg”, while more affordable creations were marked “Søren”. Thus the pipe is not from the…
Denmark Karl Erik Ottendahl (1942 – 2004) was one of the most famous Denmark artisans, who offered good, “really Danish” pipes for an affordable value. He began smoking pipe when he was 14, and started carving as a hobby. Over a few years Karl Erik founded an own workshop, but later he realized, that the…
England, 1930s A very unusual pipe from the legendary Hardcastle’s family times, i.e. made before acquisition by Dunhill in 1946 (and the most likely before the WWII). It’s difficult to say now was the rim carved at Hardcastle’s factory or was it a later improvement but the outcome looks really charmingly!
England, 1960s The stamping “Made by hand in London City” was absolutely typical for the Charatan’s second Lane era (1965 – middle of 1970s) pipes. This unsmoked sample was perhaps predetermined to become at least an upper middle grade pipe, but a couple of scratches (or surface neat cracks?) changed its destiny quite dramatically and…
England, 1960s A really unusual for the Lane era (made in 1960s) upper middle grade Charatan’s Distinction pipe. It’s rather a medium sized classical straight pipe than a large sophisticated artisans free hand. We should also admit its very nice almost straight grain and quite a light weight of this wonderful creature.
England, 1970s Among dozens, dozens and dozens of GBD brands and subbrands (seconds) GBD Penthouse pipes are really remarkable not only because of the series name, but also because of the specific stylish chair-leg stem shape. A very interesting example of the GBD carvers creative fantasy! The pipe is the most probably a creature of…
England, 1978 Initially Dunhill didn’t pay any special attention to a grain of briar. Perhaps, the public opinion had not been ready yet to a “straight grain” and material of early Bruyere pipes didn’t differ by a remarkable grain. But in 1931 Root Briar series was started. The pipes were made of Corsican briar, wonderful…