Tobacco pipe with curl

novembre 2006

Some briar pipes are so prestigious that the functionality is put on the second plan. In my opinion, the same goes for this design by Horry Jemeson, who worked at GBD factory for many years. He is considered to be one of the greatest pipe makers of all time on the basis of the uniqueness of his designs and their perfect execution. This pipe is a spectacular example from his hand. It is a beautifully shaped briar with a large bowl and straight stem with saddle mouthpiece. This perfectly balanced shape has elegantly retained a bow from the original ebauchon, which springs from the stem and ends with a beautiful arc at the base of the bowl. The visible side of that bow has two longitudinal millings. An addition without functionality, unless as a smoker you pinch your fingers through the loop, because then the pipe rests certainly better in the hand. Yet this design is so exciting that viewed from whichever side it always looks different. The GDB factory has been a prestigious company, from the time of its creation as a meerschaum factory in Paris to the English period, with production taking place in London. Their elitist history and prominent locations are emphasized by the elegant packaging box of the pipe: "Famous since 1850" and "London made" are two commendations printed in gold, pontifically on the inside of the lid. In addition to the brass plate that is inserted into the mouthpiece, the pipe is stamped on the stem with the same mark including "UNIQUE" to underline that this pipe is a one-off. The GBD factory apparently did not consider mentioning who the designer was.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 18.331