English Estates: Comoy's Virgin Briar (Supreme Patent) (Pending) (97B) (*2) (c.1930s) Tobacco Pipe

Progressing from boxwood to briar, the history of Comoy's pipe making is characterized by its strong familial ties. The marque's founder, Henri Comoy, took after his father Francois. Francois started fashioning pipes with his brothers in Saint Claude out of more rudimentary materials until he and his son Louis discovered the benefits of briar. In 1879, Henri brought his skills to London, where he would set up a factory and serve as a key figure in English pipe making while working alongside his sons and nephews. Dated around the 1930s, this vintage Supreme Patent Billiard from Comoy's features a balanced, handsomely shaped design that exudes a timeless charm. The bowl stands with a firm, upright posture, formed by smooth walls curving subtly from the heel and traveling straight toward the flat rim. Out back is an arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement, with the pair's lengthy, tapered stem lending a sleek profile to the composition. Additionally, the stummel here features a flattened underside, allowing this pipe to sit stably on level surfaces. Dressing the stummel is a fetching chestnut stain that reveals trails of birdseye along the top, fore, and underside.