English Estates: Dunhill Ruby Bark (4204) (2008) Tobacco Pipe

An iconic shape realized in classic fashion, this "04" Bulldog from Dunhill is a handsome pipe possessed of a muscular character, with sleek, clean lines and a handsome finish that lend it a regal demeanor. The timeless saddle stem glides smoothly into the junction, matching perfectly the ridges of the shank as they continue toward the bowl, with the pair at the flanks lifting subtly before dissipating just before the walls' mid-set, ridgeline-marked waistline. The heel is firm and muscular, and it supports the walls as they flare out to the waist, before making a swift taper to the chamfered rim and completing the iconic form with grace. The stummel is dressed in Dunhill's vibrant Ruby Bark stain, revealing lovely patterns of grain from beneath the crimson texture of the finish.

Dunhill's Ruby Bark finish is one that has gone through a fairly extensive evolution since its inception in 1972. It began as the Redbark and has always retained 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 re-imagined 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.