Misc. Estates: Hilson Maestro Smooth Bent Brandy (12) Tobacco Pipe

Hilson's history stretches back to 1846, with Jean-Claude, or Jean-Paul depending on your source, Hillen's founding of a trading company in Bree, Belgium with a focus on tobacco and tobacco-related goods. Between then and the 1960s, the company began to produce pipes in Bree under the name Hilson and found success in many European countries, receiving ample praise for their smoking quality and craftsmanship. Facing financial issues, the marque was acquired by Gubbels, the manufacturing concern behind Porsche and Bugatti design pipes, as well as Big Ben pipes, and their plant in Bree was shut down before moving all production to Roermond in the Netherlands. This bent Brandy is a unique take on the shape, one that focuses the majority of its visual weight on the bowl. The transition is wide, and the shank that reaches out of it is a sleek, ovoid stretch of briar mated to a slender saddle stem of black vulcanite: keeping the aft side of this piece gracile. Up front, the bowl stands on a rather firm heel and features a low-set waistline, its walls taking on an easy taper to the rim while maintaining plenty of substance to appreciate in hand. Dressed in a warm stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain and a timeless palette.