Barling: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Barling_Catalogue_Cover.jpg|thumb|200px|left|B. Barling & Sons catalogue of pipes - Printed by Unwin Brothers - The Gresham Press - likely dated 1914, Courtesy Jesse Silver]]The company received recognition of their work at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for their display of a set of “Silver-mounted meerschaum smoking pipes.” - Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851 - page 147. This honor meant so much to the company that they proudly displayed the medallion they received on the cover of their first catalog of pipes decades later (as seen to the left).
[[File:Barling_Catalogue_Cover.jpg|thumb|200px|left|B. Barling & Sons catalogue of pipes - Printed by Unwin Brothers - The Gresham Press - likely dated 1914, Courtesy Jesse Silver]]The company received recognition of their work at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for their display of a set of “Silver-mounted meerschaum smoking pipes.” - Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851 - page 147. This honor meant so much to the company that they proudly displayed the medallion they received on the cover of their first catalog of pipes decades later (as seen to the left).


Over the ensuing years the company gained and maintained an enviable reputation for the excellent smoking characteristics of their pipes, as well as for their unique interpretation of classic shapes, and the development of some "new" classics. Though not the first English company to carve pipes from Briar, (that distinction being claimed by Loewe’s who first introduced briar pipes to English smokers in 1856 - “Loewe of the Haymarket - 1926) the Barling Company supplied finely wrought silver fitments to briar bowls turned by French carvers. Finishing bowls turned in St. Claude and other manufacturing centers was a common practice among British makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Over the ensuing years the company gained and maintained an enviable reputation for the excellent smoking characteristics of their pipes, as well as for their unique interpretation of classic shapes, and the development of some "new" classics. Though not the first English company to carve pipes from Briar, (that distinction being claimed by Loewe’s who first introduced briar pipes to English smokers in 1856 - “Loewe of the Haymarket - 1926) the Barling Company supplied finely wrought silver fitments to briar bowls turned by French carvers. Finishing bowls turned in [[Saint-Claude]] and other manufacturing centers was a common practice among British makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.


In his classic article, Mysterious Barlings, written for the Spring 2000 issue of Pipes and Tobacco Magazine, Tad Gage writes that the Barling Company did not exclusively turn their own bowls until around 1909. Jon Guss, based on a statement made by Montague Barling in the British trade publication, Tobacco, gives the year that Barling began turning their own bowls as 1906 (Guss), following a crippling strike by French carvers.
In his classic article, Mysterious Barlings, written for the Spring 2000 issue of Pipes and Tobacco Magazine, Tad Gage writes that the Barling Company did not exclusively turn their own bowls until around 1909. Jon Guss, based on a statement made by Montague Barling in the British trade publication, Tobacco, gives the year that Barling began turning their own bowls as 1906 (Guss), following a crippling strike by French carvers.
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Many Barling briar pipes made prior to 1906 lack any company markings except for the
Many Barling briar pipes made prior to 1906 lack any company markings except for the
name of the shop that sold them. As was common practice at the time, the majority of
name of the shop that sold them. As was common practice at the time, the majority of
bowls Barling used prior to 1906 were imported from St. Claude or Jura to be finished in
bowls Barling used prior to 1906 were imported from Saint-Claude or Jura to be finished in
the Barling factories. If there was anything to identify Barling as the maker it was their
the Barling factories. If there was anything to identify Barling as the maker it was their
maker’s mark, EB over WB, stamped into a sterling fitment. During the late 1800’s the
maker’s mark, EB over WB, stamped into a sterling fitment. During the late 1800’s the
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designed to emphasize, as a company promotion noted, shimmering color and grain
designed to emphasize, as a company promotion noted, shimmering color and grain
contrast that mimicked the sheen of the British guinea gold coin. (Gage)
contrast that mimicked the sheen of the British guinea gold coin. (Gage)
* Birdseye - pipes with particularly nice Birdseye grain - one of the most rare of
[[File:BarlingBirdseye 09.JPG|thumb|300px|Rare Birdseye stamp, courtesy Vassilis, see more photos of it in the gallery]] * Birdseye - pipes with particularly nice Birdseye grain - one of the most rare of
Barling stampings because it was introduced very late in the company's family
Barling stampings because it was introduced very late in the company's family
ownership. (Gage)
ownership. (Gage)
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File:Barling Quaint Meerschaum cropped 5.jpg
File:Barling Quaint Meerschaum cropped 5.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>
<center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="A rare Birdseye stamped pipe, courtesy Vassilis">
File:BarlingBirdseye 01.JPG
File:BarlingBirdseye 02.JPG
File:BarlingBirdseye 03.JPG
File:BarlingBirdseye 04.JPG
File:BarlingBirdseye 05.JPG
File:BarlingBirdseye 09.JPG
</gallery></center>


'''The Barling “Freak”:'''
'''The Barling “Freak”:'''

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