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''The following article is from Stephen P. Smith's [http://murderofravens.wordpress.com/my-sasieni-pipe-article/ Connecting the Dots] and used by permission. Please feel free to contribute additional information, but do not edit or delete the material within Steve's article -- Pipedia SYSOP'' | ''The following article is from Stephen P. Smith's [http://murderofravens.wordpress.com/my-sasieni-pipe-article/ Connecting the Dots] and used by permission. Please feel free to contribute additional information, but do not edit or delete the material within Steve's article -- Pipedia SYSOP'' | ||
[[File:Sasieni Plant.jpg|thumb|Early Plate from the Sasieni Factory, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | |||
== Connecting the Dots: A Concise History of the Sasieni Pipe == | == Connecting the Dots: A Concise History of the Sasieni Pipe == | ||
'''By Stephen P. Smith''' | '''By Stephen P. Smith''' | ||
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[[Image:SasieniC.jpg|thumb|300px|1926 8-dot, shape #44, plum finish, courtesy [http://www.glpease.com/ G.L.Pease]]] | [[Image:SasieniC.jpg|thumb|300px|1926 8-dot, shape #44, plum finish, courtesy [http://www.glpease.com/ G.L.Pease]]] | ||
[[Image:SasieniD.jpg|thumb|300px|Tapered bulldogs. The upper Rustic is an early 1-dot (single dot on each side of the stem). The Rough Root below is a later 4-dot version in the “Brooklands” shape. Courtesy [http://www.glpease.com/ G.L.Pease]]] | [[Image:SasieniD.jpg|thumb|300px|Tapered bulldogs. The upper Rustic is an early 1-dot (single dot on each side of the stem). The Rough Root below is a later 4-dot version in the “Brooklands” shape. Courtesy [http://www.glpease.com/ G.L.Pease]]] | ||
[[Image:SasieniE.jpg|thumb|300px|An early 4-dot “Danzey” bent bulldog sporting Pat. No. 150221/20.]] | [[Image:SasieniE.jpg|thumb|300px|An early 4-dot “Danzey” bent bulldog sporting Pat. No. 150221/20.]][[File:Sasieni Model Chart.jpg|thumb|Sasieni Shape Chart, Courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | ||
In his book, “The Ultimate Pipe Book”, Richard Carleton Hacker writes American pipe collectors “seem to be more preoccupied with ’smokable’ brand names, of which the most collectible are Dunhill, Barling, Sasieni, and Charatan.” Theodore Justin Gage, the former publisher of the much missed “The Compleat Smoker”, called Sasieni pipes a “fascinating collectible, …representing all that is good about classic English pipe making.” And for good reason: the pipes made by the Sasieni company between the years 1919 and 1979 rank among the very best the London pipe industry had to offer. They featured superb wood, flawless bowls, outstanding smoking qualities, and a styling that was uniquely theirs. | In his book, “The Ultimate Pipe Book”, Richard Carleton Hacker writes American pipe collectors “seem to be more preoccupied with ’smokable’ brand names, of which the most collectible are Dunhill, Barling, Sasieni, and Charatan.” Theodore Justin Gage, the former publisher of the much missed “The Compleat Smoker”, called Sasieni pipes a “fascinating collectible, …representing all that is good about classic English pipe making.” And for good reason: the pipes made by the Sasieni company between the years 1919 and 1979 rank among the very best the London pipe industry had to offer. They featured superb wood, flawless bowls, outstanding smoking qualities, and a styling that was uniquely theirs. | ||
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[[File:Fantail15.jpg|thumb|Sasieni Fantail Patent, July 21, 1953, Courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | [[File:Fantail15.jpg|thumb|Sasieni Fantail Patent, July 21, 1953, Courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Sasieni Fishtail Ad 1930.jpg|Circa 1930 Fishtail Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | ||
<center><gallery Widths=250 heights=200px Caption="Sasieni Fantail, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | <center><gallery Widths=250 heights=200px Caption="Sasieni Fantail, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | ||
File:Fantail01.jpg | File:Fantail01.jpg | ||
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</gallery></center> | </gallery></center> | ||
Alfred Sasieni continued to run the company prosperously until 1979, when he sold out to another firm. Interestingly, he stayed on in the capacity of a director. At first it seems to have been a harmonious partnership. The new owners started their tenure with a limited edition reissue Eight Dot. This was a generous sized, natural stained smooth pipe which occasionally also had a gold band. Each pipe had a blue string running through the bowl, shank, and stem, affixed with a lead stamp and paper tab signed by Alfred Sasieni himself. These pipes are both strikingly handsome and maddeningly elusive, due to the fact only 100 (or so, accounts differ) were ever made. | [[File:Sasieni Brochure.jpg|thumb|Early Brochure, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Sasieni TB.jpg|thumb|Catalog page, post transition?, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]Alfred Sasieni continued to run the company prosperously until 1979, when he sold out to another firm. Interestingly, he stayed on in the capacity of a director. At first it seems to have been a harmonious partnership. The new owners started their tenure with a limited edition reissue Eight Dot. This was a generous sized, natural stained smooth pipe which occasionally also had a gold band. Each pipe had a blue string running through the bowl, shank, and stem, affixed with a lead stamp and paper tab signed by Alfred Sasieni himself. These pipes are both strikingly handsome and maddeningly elusive, due to the fact only 100 (or so, accounts differ) were ever made. | ||
This spirit of cooperation between the old and new owners does not appear to have lasted long. Alfred Sasieni believed only vulcanite should be used for pipe stems, eschewing the newer, trendier Lucite. When the new owners, contrary to Alfred’s wishes, issued a new Ten Dot, replete with Lucite stem, it seems Alfred decided he had had enough, and left the firm for good. | This spirit of cooperation between the old and new owners does not appear to have lasted long. Alfred Sasieni believed only vulcanite should be used for pipe stems, eschewing the newer, trendier Lucite. When the new owners, contrary to Alfred’s wishes, issued a new Ten Dot, replete with Lucite stem, it seems Alfred decided he had had enough, and left the firm for good. | ||
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===Why Collect Sasieni’s?=== | ===Why Collect Sasieni’s?=== | ||
[[File:Sasieni stump.jpg|thumb|Old Brochure Featuring Sasieni Stump, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | |||
There are many reasons to collect these pipes, ranging from the purely monetary to the aesthetic and esoteric. While I personally do not collect pipes to make money, nor do I advise same, the fact remains a high grade, flawless, first quality pipe that currently sells for less than $100, and often less than $50, surely must have some potential for appreciation. No less an authority than the late Barry Levin himself once told me he felt Sasieni’s were severely under valued, but as time went by they would eventually take their rightful place next to Dunhill and Barling, as people came to appreciate the wonderful qualities of this pipe. | There are many reasons to collect these pipes, ranging from the purely monetary to the aesthetic and esoteric. While I personally do not collect pipes to make money, nor do I advise same, the fact remains a high grade, flawless, first quality pipe that currently sells for less than $100, and often less than $50, surely must have some potential for appreciation. No less an authority than the late Barry Levin himself once told me he felt Sasieni’s were severely under valued, but as time went by they would eventually take their rightful place next to Dunhill and Barling, as people came to appreciate the wonderful qualities of this pipe. | ||