The Longchamp Billiard Opera is a distinctive French estate pipe renowned for its unique leather-clad design, a hallmark of Longchamp’s innovative approach to pipe-making.
Historical Background:
In 1948, Jean Cassegrain inherited a small shop in Paris named “Au Sultan,” which specialized in smoker’s accessories and fountain pens. Facing an inventory of subpar wartime pipes with significant fills, Cassegrain collaborated with a leather worker to clad these pipes in leather, enhancing their aesthetic appeal and making them marketable. This innovation led to the creation of Longchamp pipes, named after the famous horse racing park near Paris. The leather-wrapped pipes gained immediate popularity, especially among Allied soldiers in post-war Paris, and became the exclusive product of Cassegrain’s shop. He sourced pipes from renowned firms like Ropp and Butz-Choquin to meet the growing demand.
Design and Features:
• Leather Cladding: Longchamp pipes are characterized by their leather-wrapped exteriors, providing a unique tactile experience and insulating the heat, making them comfortable to hold during smoking sessions.
• Billiard Shape: The Billiard shape is a classic pipe design featuring a straight stem and a cylindrical bowl, offering a timeless aesthetic and balanced feel.
• Opera Style: The “Opera” designation refers to the pipe’s flattened bowl, designed to fit comfortably in a pocket without creating a noticeable bulge, making it convenient for portability.
Unfortunately, we could not save the leather cladding on this one as it was well beyond any chance of restoration. We instead gave it a fresh stain and polish but left the marks the leather stitching.
