Peterson (c.1970s-80s) Tawny Rusticated Billiard African Block Meerschaum Pipe, Irish Estates

Peterson pipes generally need no introduction, but just in case you’re unfamiliar: in 1876, a Latvian named Charles Peterson immigrated to Ireland and was hired making pipes in a workshop owned by Frederick and George Kapp. After rising through the ranks to become head craftsman, Peterson bought into the Kapp’s business, which was renamed, Kapp & Peterson (K&P). During this time, Peterson himself applied for several patents for pipe designs, including the world-famous Peterson’s System. Since then, Peterson has become one of the most recognizable names in pipe smoking and continues to produce high quality pipes from their headquarters in Dublin. While Peterson is well known for briar pipes, the Irish make has, at various, disparate points in time, also offered meerschaum renditions of its classic shapes (and even few non-classic shapes, too). These pipes can be roughly divided into three periods. The oldest are the meerschaum pipes Peterson manufactured during the “patent era” of the late 19th and early 20th century; the most recent are the limited run, Turkish block meerschaum pipes made in the mid-2000s; and then there are pipes like this one, made during around 1970s and 1980s. As this took place after Turkey had prohibited the export of raw block meerschaum, Peterson’s late 20th century renditions were carved from African block meerschaum (which would, unfortunately, also become all but impossible to acquire in subsequent years). To accomplish this, Peterson partnered with the English company Laxey Pipes. Laxey has its own extensive history with meerschaum, and Peterson was far from the only make to enlist the former’s services in the second half of the 20th century, but Peterson also made sure that the Laxey meerschaums largely kept within its house style, such as the inclusion of Peterson’s patented P-Lip mouthpieces. Per Peterson’s 1978-79 catalog for the distributor Glass Ltd., this particular Pete is an example of the “Tawny,” a series of rusticated African block meerschaum pipes with a golden, fumed finish. The condition is good. Some rim darkening, finish fading, and handling marks.   Details: Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm Bowl Width: 0.73 / 18.54mm Bowl Depth: 1.42″ / 36.06mm Weight: 1.3oz / 38g