Internationale Pfeifenmacher » Grossbritannien: Sasieni

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Sasieni "Burton" Four Dot Bent Billiard

The Burton was a very large bent billiard variation, a shape unique to Sasieni and very daring by their very conservative standards. The nearly apple shaped bowl has a kind of prow at the back of the bowl, which is not only decorative, but snuggles nicely between the fingers. It has a a tapered shank, and a very graceful taper bit with the characteristic four dots and a notably thin, comfortable lip. The grain isn't much to write home about; but the color is nice, and it should be a first rate smoker, especially for English mixtures, given its Group 6 capacity bowl.

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Sasieni c. 1935 Four Dot Patent Long Stemmed Apple

The Worcester is an old fashioned shape, a long stemmed apple, which first became popular in the 1920's. This fine old "Fish Logo" pipe is densely grained, richly colored, beautifully executed, and in first rate condition. A top notch Virginia pipe. What's not to like?

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Sasieni c. 1940 Rustic "Oom Paul"


The Oom Paul was a shape that Sasieni executed to a faretheewell. This example has the fine rustication hand rustication that Sasieni developed as an alternative to sandblasting, though considerably more labor intensive. The rustic is a rugged finish, properly known for its cool, dry smoking properties. This is a very nice one, with clear nomenclature and /20 patent number, and is in virtually pristine condition.

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Sasieni c. 1950 Four Dot "Buckingham XS" Billiard

An ODA-sized version of the classic Buckingham billiard, cut and finished with the traditional lines and superb execution for which Sasieii was justly famous. The proportions are especially well balanced, the grain is dense, and the condition outstanding in all regards.

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Sasieni c. 1950 Four Dot "Hurlingham Rustic" Apple

Sasieni c. 1950 Four Dot "Hurlingham Rustic" Apple
Joel Sasieni developed the hand carved "Rustic" finish in the 1920's. It was a laborious and time consuming finish, in which lines were carved into the surface of the wood in a pattern corresponding to the underlying briar. This finish proved very popular with smokers because of its ruggedness and superb smoking properties; indeed, it was priced at the same level as their smooth finish pipes. This is a large and attractive example, cut as a classic billiard with handcut taper bit, the latter sporting the characteristic blue dots. It has an attractive smooth and rounded rim with rich Bruyere color.

It was very carefully smoked by its previous owner, and appears virtually new.

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Sasieni c. 1960 Four Dot Natural "Appleby"

The classic post-War "Four Dot" apple, a charming and well-balanced design. It has a graceful bowl, a tubular shank of medium length, and a very nice handcut taper bit with characteristic dots on the side. This pipe was from the final decade of family ownership, and has all the virtues that have endeared the brand to collectors: top quality briar, excellent cut and execution, and first rate smoking properties. Outstanding condition in all regards, and complete with box and sleeve.

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Sasieni c. 1960 Four Dot Walnut "Pembroke" Billiard

Sasieni's family era rendering of the classic billiard in the dark stained "Walnut" finish. It's a rather large pipe, with Group 5 capacity and a surprisingly llong shank--nearly a Liverpool. The stem is merely adequate, albeit original, as it is a bit awkwardly cut. But it fits well and and has a comfortable button.

Apart from this, the pipe is well executed and in superb condition. It should prove a reliable friend, delivering excellent smokes for many years to come.

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Sasieni c. 1960 McDonald Long-shanked Apple

The McDonald grade was introduced after War as a more economical alternative to the Four Dot. In examining this pipe, however, I see no compromises in grain, color, or quality of execution. It's a very nicely proportioned apple with a rather stout elongated shank. It is fitted with an first rate handcut saddle bit. Lightly smoked, it is in excellent condition.

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Sasieni Circa 1940 One Dot Saddle Bit Apple

Sasieni Circa 1940 One Dot Saddle Bit Apple
This first rate pipe is a European market example, one that has the florid Sasieni stamping of the pre-War series, but lacks a patent number. By the time it was made Dunhill had successfully sued Joel Sasieni, his former factory manager, over the use of a single dot on the stem for the US market, thus forcing the introduction of the famous four dots on the top or side of the bit; but his claim was rejected in the home market. Hence Sasieni persisted with the single dot, albeit blue rather than white, until after the War.

The pipe has a lovely, archetypical apple bowl, densely grained and showing substantial birdseye and horizontal flame grain, indicating it was cut from high grade plateaux briar. But what distinguishes it is the long, tubular shank, nicely articulated from the bowl, and the notably high quality, handcut saddle bit with mild fishtail lip. There are some that claim that Sasienis rank with Barlings in being the finest classical British pipe; and I tend to agree. Sasieni's curing methods were able to approximate, if not entirely equal, the smoking properties of the air-cured Barling wood; and the internal engineering was superb.

The pipe is lightly smoked, and in virtually pristine condition. A rare and desirable piece.

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Sasieni Four Dot "Oom Paul" Extra Large

This pipe is marked "SXS" to denote an extra large size example, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. It is a nicely cut classic Oom Paul or Hungarian, as Dunhill discreetly referred to it, naturally finished, and of good Group 5 capacity. It is naturally finished, and superbly executed in the best Family era style. Great condition.

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Sasieni Four Dot Rustic "Hurlingham" Apple

From its earliest days in the '20's, Sasieni produced hand rusticated pipes, whose carving followed the grain in the wood. Interestingly, they did not discount these pipes, but sold them at the same price as the smooth pipes. The reason for this must certainly have been that it is far more difficult to make a rusticated pipe like this one than it is to make a smooth pipe; and given that the quality of the briar was the same in both cases, the rusticated pipe would smoke far better than the smooth, because of the increased surface area, which both assured better heat dispersion, and enhanced the passage of moisture and combustion by-products through the briar. Here is a large and handsome example from the late '40's, an ODA-sized "Hurlingham" apple. It has a very large, nearly spherical bowl, a long tubular shank, and one of Sasieni's impeccable handcut taper bits. The rustication is deep and confident, indicating that the briar was originally cut across the grain, and the color is a deep "Tanshell." An altogether first rate pipe from a great maker.

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Sasieni Four Dot Natural "Canterbury" (1946-1979)