American Estates: Kaywoodie Jester (1937-1940s) Tobacco Pipe

Kaywoodie pipes primarily comprise classic profiles rendered in faithfully timeless fashion, though the brand also crafted a fair few figural pipes in their time. This jester is one such pipe, and it's a delightfully vintage example of the brand's work, coming from between 1937 and the 1940s. The transition is wide, and it gives way to a thick shank that tapers sleekly into a similarly diminishing stem of black vulcanite: paired to the stummel via a threaded tenon whose stinger is intact. Up front the bowl stands on a broad heel defined by a curving ridgeline above, the ridge acting as the trunk supporting the jester's neck. The jester in question is a delightfully charming character, with a knowing smirk and a playful look in his eyes, his face framed by a pointed goatee and motley hood. This hood boasts carved details throughout, but its highlight is the pinned feather on the left side, complete with a curl at the bottom. Dressed in a warm, smooth finish, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout.

Originally a line of pipes offered by Kaufman Bros. & Bondy (KB&B,) Kaywoodie first appeared in 1919 and rather swiftly became a massive success, with the larger company going on to open offices in New York, New Jersey, and London, shipping pipes around the world. Eventually, Kaywoodie became a subsidiary brand of KB&B, and that company was acquired by S.M. Frank, Kaywoodie having been consistently produced for nearly a century throughout.