English Estates: Dunhill Amber Root with Bamboo (3103) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill introduced their Whangee pipes during World War II and the years immediately after, when briar was in short supply. Incorporating bamboo was a simple enough idea that both saved on briar and played off of preexisting fashions — the term "whangee" had already long been in use for bamboo canes (like those used by Charlie Chaplin in his role as the Tramp) and umbrellas, and even cigarette holders made by Dunhill themselves. The idea not only stuck around long after it had been put to use for the sake of practicality, it positively thrived. Here we have one of Dunhill's Whangee "03" straight Billiard pipes in a handy Group 3 size and dressed in the marque's Amber Root finish, with both the bamboo and briar elements coming together to make a seamless, sophisticated piece.

One of Dunhill's more recent finishes, the Amber Root was introduced in 1995. Like the Root Briar, it showcases a smooth stain, accentuating the briar's natural grain in traditional style. Typically auburn-hued, the Amber Root is often a touch darker in color than that of the Root Briar, pairing handsomely with the jet-black stem for an aesthetic that combines the grain definition of the Root Briar finish with the darker, smokier tones of the Bruyere.