English Estates: Dunhill Ruby Bark (4144) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Defined by a cylindrical, Poker-like bowl and lack of shank, Dunhill's "44" Duke design features an elongated shank-and-mouthpiece combination that fit directly into the lower bowl via mount-style configuration. One of Dunhill's more eccentric styles from their standard shape chart, this is a highly collectible offering, accented here with a smooth, inflated rim, texturally contrasting the vivid crimson sandblast of the Ruby Bark finish, something seldom seen dressing this particular shape.

Dunhill's Ruby Bark finish is one that's gone through a fairly extensive evolution since its inception in 1972. It began as the Redbark and has always remained a red-stained sandblast, but the color was brightened a few years after its introduction before Dunhill returned to the original, darker hue in 1976. Eventually, though, the Redbark was discontinued in 1987. After a hiatus of several decades, the same ruby-stained sandblast was reimagined in the form of today's Ruby Bark finish, adding to the rich aesthetic crisp accents of sterling silver for a colorful presentation that still retains a high level of formality.