Description
About the Shape
Originally released as one of four Specialty shapes in 1945, the Belgique is Peterson’s signature take on the traditional Belge, its Egg-like bowl and forward cant reminiscent of the clay tavern pipes of yesteryear. Something of a contrast to the robust, muscular aesthetic that defines so much of the House Style, it’s among Peterson’s smallest, most lightweight designs.
| Length | 145mm |
| Weight | 17g |
| Bowl Height | 36mm |
| Bowl Width | 26mm |
| Chamber Depth | 30mm |
| Chamber Width | 16mm |
| Stem Material | Vulcanite |
| Filter | None |
| Shape | Cutty |
| Finish | Sandblast |
| Material | Briar |
About the Series
The Specialty Sandblast series beautifully showcases Peterson’s range of lightweight, elegant Specialty shapes with a classic, dark sandblasted finish, lending these trim designs a timeless aesthetic.
About the Range
Something of a departure from the stout, muscular aesthetic that characterizes so much of Peterson’s portfolio, the Specialty line contains a number of their more petite, lightweight shapes such as the Barrel, Tankard, Calabash, and Belgique. It was created in 1945 and remains a popular range to this date.
About Peterson of Dublin
In 1874, just one year after receiving a prize medal for his efforts at the 1873 London International Exhibition, German émigré Frederick Kapp moved his pipe retail operation from London to Dublin, Ireland, where he opened a new tobacco and pipe shop, making and selling pipes crafted from meerschaum as well as briar root, a relatively new material to the market. Within a year, Frederick employed a young Latvian woodworker named Charles Peterson to help with production and repairs.
In 1890, after 15 years of handling and repairing multitudes of pipes, and thinking critically about how to improve their design, Peterson applied for and secured a patent in his own name, titled “A certain new and useful improvement in Tobacco-Pipes,” introducing a unique system designed to wick moisture away from the smoke and deliver a fuller tobacco flavor – a design he would continue to improve over the next eight years. By 1896, after winning two gold medals at the International Tobacco Trades Exhibition in London for “Best Finished Pipe” and “Best Patent Pipe,” Charles Peterson, together with Frederick’s son Alfred Henry, had transformed the small pipe shop and smoking parlour into a budding international export factory, introducing the patented System pipe, as well as a host of other Classic designs, to the hands and minds of enthusiasts worldwide, where Kapp & Peterson has remained for generations.
As the oldest continuously operating briar pipe factory in the world, the pipe makers at Peterson have a certain tradition to uphold, a legacy of craftsmanship dating back over 150 years. Whether you’re browsing for your very first pipe or are a seasoned collector in search of a rare gem, know that every pipe in their catalogue carries with it that same preservation of tradition. A Peterson pipe isn’t just a utilitarian tool; it’s a piece of history you can carry with you in your travels, a faithful companion to accompany you through all that life offers.
