Jean Lacroix Nizza 98 Large Smooth Billiard Pipe - No Filter

THE MARKS

- Jean Lacroix stamped on the shank - NIZZA stamped on the shank - 98 stamped on the shank - BRUYERE EXTRA FINE stamped on the shank

Bruyere is the French word for briar, the burl wood used for the bowl. EXTRA FINE is reproduced as part of the stamping, without turning it into an unsupported claim about a particular briar source, curing process or factory grade hierarchy. The number 98 is similarly recorded without assigning it a date or a catalogue interpretation that has not been established for this pipe.

The billiard shape gives the bowl an upright profile and leads the shank straight back toward the mouthpiece. Here the bowl is 57 mm high, with a 22 mm chamber diameter and a 49 mm chamber depth. Those proportions, the 157 mm overall length and the substantial shank account for the large appearance described when the pipe came into the archive.

The finish is smooth, so the visible grain follows the shaped surface of the bowl and carries into the shank. The photographs show the sides, heel and rim under different angles of light. The faint scratches and the inner-rim burn spot belong in the condition description rather than being concealed by a general claim of perfect preservation.

The vulcanite stem narrows progressively toward its fishtail bit. Vulcanite is a hard rubber traditionally used for pipe mouthpieces; the fishtail is the flattened end of the stem. This pipe has no filter. The stem-out photograph shows the mouthpiece and fitting separately from the bowl, while the close-up photographs record the different lines of stamping.

Condition: Pre-smoked, in good condition for its age. There are faint scratches around the briar and a burn spot on the inner rim. Please examine the photographs for those details and the appearance of the bowl, chamber and mouthpiece.

THE MEASUREMENTS

- Length: 157 mm (6.18 in) - Bowl height: 57 mm (2.24 in) - Bowl width: 40 mm (1.57 in) - Chamber diameter: 22 mm (0.87 in) - Chamber depth: 49 mm (1.93 in) - Weight: 63 g (2.22 oz)