Butz-Choquin Cocards 1601 Smooth Brandy Estate Pipe, French Briar

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IDENTIFICATION

This is a French estate briar pipe by Butz-Choquin, stamped with the model name Cocards and shape number 1601. The pipe is a smooth-finished brandy shape with a tapered vulcanite stem and no filter. It is a Saint-Claude production, bearing the standard post-1951 Butz-Choquin marking scheme. The pipe shows pre-smoking condition with excellent preservation throughout.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Butz-Choquin is among the oldest continuous pipe brands in Europe. The house was founded in 1858 in Metz by Jean-Baptiste Choquin, a tobacconist, and Gustave Butz, his son-in-law and a skilled craftsman. Their original creation, the Choquin model, featured the distinctive flat-bottomed bowl and hollow albatross-bone mouthpiece extension fixed with silver rings-a design so elegant that it appeared in period photographs of the painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, whose portrait was used in Butz-Choquin's own advertising.

Before 1951, Butz-Choquin pipes were crafted and distributed through various manufacturing partnerships, including Berrod-Regad. In 1951, Berrod-Regad acquired the trademark and relocated production to Saint-Claude, the traditional center of French pipe-making in the Jura. This move marked the beginning of the modern era. Throughout the 1960s, the collection expanded from ten to seventy distinct series, reflecting both domestic demand and a deliberate entry into export markets. A pivotal design achievement came in the 1960s when celebrated industrial designer Joe Colombo created the 'Optimal' pipe series for Butz-Choquin, a registered design (modle dpos N154217/154221) that exemplified the marriage of modernist form and functional smoking. The Cocards model, numbered 1601, sits within this mid-range collection and represents the straightforward, well-proportioned billiard-derived shapes that formed the backbone of the house's international sales during the post-war expansion.

GRADING & MARKS

Stamps and markings:
'Butz-Choquin' in script (left side of shank) - the maker's name and primary brand identifier.
'Cocards' (left side of shank, below maker name) - the model designation.
'1601' (right side of shank) - the shape number within the Butz-Choquin catalog.
'St. Claude France' (right side of shank) - production location and country of origin, indicating manufacture at the Saint-Claude facility after 1951.

The presence of 'St. Claude France' (without 'A Metz') confirms this is a post-1951 production pipe. The Cocards model designation is clear and legible. The shape number 1601 is the definitive identifier for this form within the maker's system.

SHAPE ANALYSIS

The stamped shape number 1601 identifies this as a brandy-a short, stout form with a generous bowl and a relatively compact overall footprint. The brandy shape is descended from the billiard family but trades the billiard's vertical proportion for a wider, rounder bowl and a shorter, thicker shank. The tapered vulcanite stem sits flush with the shank line, creating a unified profile from bowl to mouthpiece. This shape was designed for comfort in the hand and for slow, cool smoking; the large chamber volume and thick briar walls provide thermal mass that moderates heat. The brandy is an ideal form for a straight stem, as the weight of the bowl is well-distributed over the palm. The Cocards 1601 is a working pipe-unadorned, symmetrical, and built for utility rather than display, yet with the refined proportions expected of a Saint-Claude product.

BRIAR & FINISH

The bowl is finished smooth, meaning the briar surface has been sanded to a uniform plane and sealed with a light stain or wax. A smooth finish emphasizes the grain structure of the wood and is the traditional choice for pipes intended to show the character of the briar itself. The vulcanite stem is matte in appearance, typical of vulcanite that has not been polished or buffed to high sheen. This finish scheme-smooth bowl with matte stem-is a standard and economical approach that was universal across Butz-Choquin's mid-range production. The smooth finish allows the natural coloration of aged briar to develop over time, and the unobstructed surface makes the pipe straightforward to clean and maintain. Collectors value smooth finishes for their clarity and for the way they reveal the quality of the briar selection; a poor piece of wood cannot hide under carving or stain.

CONDITION REPORT

This pipe is pre-smoked in excellent condition. The bowl and shank show no visible fills, cracks, or structural damage. The rim is clean and unbroken. The chamber is sound and unobstructed. The vulcanite stem is intact, free of tooth chatter, cracks, or heavy oxidation. The overall appearance is consistent with careful use and storage. No repairs are evident.

DIMENSIONS

Overall Length: 6.2 inches (155 mm)
Bowl Height: 2.0 inches (50 mm)
Chamber Depth: 1.39 inches (35.31 mm)
Chamber Diameter: 0.84 inches (21.34 mm)
Outside Bowl Diameter: 1.47 inches (37.34 mm)
Weight: 1.50 ounces (42.52 g)

CLOSING

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SKU: SKU-119