BARLING LONDON-TOM SPANU - SARDEGNA - Pipe - Briar - (2)

TWO SPLENDID PIPES FROM EXPERT COLLECTORS.
Tommaso Spanu (1944–2022) is considered one of the greatest Italian and international pipe makers.
In 1979 he founded his workshop in Sassari, introducing 100% artisanal production, entirely Sardinian, with particular attention to the selection of Erica Arborea briar, which he collected and seasoned personally for over 10 years.
Spanu is known for being the only pipe maker in the world to create pipes entirely in Sardinia, from briar harvest to finish.
Tommaso (who passed away in 2022) was an ambassador of Italian artisanal pipes, exporting his creations to the United States and Japan.
Description:
Brand: "Tom Spanu" hand-engraved
Material: Sardinian briar selected with a beautiful variegated flame grain
Shape: Classic curved billiard, elegant and balanced
Mouthpiece: Ebanite
Finish: Smooth and glossy with a natural patina, typical of artisanal production in the 1980s/1990s.
Conditions: Excellent, very little used, bowl in perfect condition.
Based on the hand-engraved logo and the style, the pipe dates back to the 1980s or 1990s, a period when Tommaso personally crafted every piece, signing it by hand. This is a sought-after vintage artisanal piece.
The market value is high because Tommaso Spanu has passed away and his original pipes, especially those with autograph signatures, are becoming investment pieces.
LENGTH: 145 MM, WEIGHT: 55 g
Brand / Pipemaker:

Barling’s Make (Barling & Sons)

Place of production:
London, England

Estimated production period:
1962 – 1970 (early post-transition phase, English production still of good quality)

Marking:
“BARLING” / “BARLING’S MAKE”
“MADE IN ENGLAND”
Any shape codes or letters (if present)
HISTORICAL NOTES
Barling & Sons represents one of the most important English pipe manufacturers, active since the 19th century and considered, along with Dunhill, a benchmark of British tradition.
Barling pipes pre-1962 (Family Era) are today among the most sought-after in the world.
After the ownership change in 1962, production continued in England maintaining high quality standards, especially in the early post-transition year models.
Your piece falls precisely into this period:
early post-transition phase, still highly appreciated by collectors.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Material: Selected Erica briar
Finish: Smooth with good natural flame
Work: Semi-handcrafted English
Mouthpiece: Original Ebanite (or acrylic if present)
Line: Standard Barling production of mid-high quality
CONDITION
Overall condition: good / very good
Structure: sound, no obvious cracks
Combustion chamber: regular
Rim: normal signs of use
Mouthpiece: original, with possible signs of time

Conservative valuation: 7.5 – 8 / 10

DATING
Attribution based on:
- Marking style
- Presence of the inscription “Made in England”
- Barling post-1962 production characteristics

Confirmed period: 1962 – 1970

CURRENT MARKET VALUE
Valuation based on real sales (PicClick, international market):
European value:
€120 – €180