The oval bowl of this pipe
was designed to allow it to be kept in a pocket. It has a great personality:
I imagine it into a pocket of a dinner jacket for permitting a smoke. ”Opera”
is the common name for this pipe in the US, perhaps because it’s well suited
for a short smoke (laws permitting) between the acts of Aida (the opera)
or Aida (the musical)!
It is a limited production pipe,
therein defining its rarity and value.
There is something that I’m not
able to understand regarding the finish of this pipe: apparently it looks
the earliest Black Briar when the black finish left the impression of a
very dark pipe, leaving the pattern of the briar underneath still visible.
However, the Dress and Black
Briar finishes were introduced circa in the early ‘70s while this pipe
is oddly dated 1968. Further complicating this rebus, the finish is not
reflected in the nomenclature (see photos supplied) and therefore I leave
to enthusiasts to argue about this topic.
To add to this riddle wrapped
in an enigma: I own a twin of this pipe, literally identical in every respect,
nomenclature included: the only difference is that this second pipe was
made in 1953...
Enjoy yourselves and please forward
your solutions to me!
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