Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

Given that Charatan very rarely rusticated their pipes, and given that Dunhill has never – to my knowledge – rusticated their pipes, this pipe is likely to have been made by either Les and Dolly Wood of Ferndown, or Barry Jones and Ken Barnes of James Upshall. It would then correspond either to Ferndown’s Bark finish, or James Upshall’s early rusticated finish. In other words, the pipe will have been made by a master artisan, though I can’t say for certain which one. The pipe itself is a simple but perfectly executed English billiard of around group 3 size, with a micro-rustication stained in a very dark red-brown hue. It’s a wonderfully lightweight pipe, one that should make for an ideal clencher.

The condition is great. It is difficult to tell whether there is any rim darkening, due to the dark stain, but given the condition of the vulcanite stem, I take that this pipe was very well cared for.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.62″ / 41.14mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g