English Estates: Dunhill Root Briar Lovat (DR****) (2023) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

This Dunhill Lovat is an archetypal example of the shape, the English marque crafting some of the most proportionally balanced renditions of the classic profile. Essentially a Billiard with an extended shank and a trim saddle stem, this shape is one that is deceptively difficult to craft well, as all of the lines must be clean and the proportions spot on. The White Spot achieves this seemingly with ease, the bowl sitting pert atop a rounded heel and balanced at the end of its lengthy shank with poised grace.

Dunhill's "DR" designation on certain Root Briars signifies a special class of pipes: Dead Root. Like all Root Briars, these pieces maintain flawless briar, but with especially choice grain on display. Before the Root Briar line's introduction in 1931, "DR" was stamped on Bruyere pipes that showed handsome grain, but Dunhill wanted a more grain-defining finish, leading to the creation of the Root Briar. Starting in 1979, The White Spot extended the grade further — replacing the letter grading system with stars, increasing in prestige from one to seven. A Dead Root pipe represents the best of Dunhill's standard selection, yet remains quite rare compared to the English marque's overall lineup.