This silver and ivory R. G. Lawrie set is hallmarked 1900 and is in remarkable shape for its age. One tenor drone bottom was replaced many years ago by Charley Kron, ivory and all. It is a nearly perfect replacment, and the ivory has aged nicely so that it is very close to an ideal blend with the older ivory. The mouthpiece bulb is not original. These rarely survive. Pictured is an imitation ivory replacement that is just about perfect.

The other tenor drone top had a hairline crack that has been whipped and is completely invisible. Some of the ivory projecting mount plates show spider lines typical of old ivory.

The wood has a few nicks and chips commensurate with 113 years of age. The pipes were stripped and refinished.

The set plays beautifully — steady, big, rich, and with a seamless bass/tenor blend typical of the old Lawrie and Henderson sets. Despite the replacement piece — executed by one of the great modern pipemakers — this set remains classic Lawrie from the firm’s golden age.