Dunhill: Snake Pipe Amber Root with Gold and Diamonds (4103) (2015) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's Snake Pipe series is among the most collectible lines from the venerable English marque with this particular piece being particularly notable. The singular shape chosen for the series is a Group 4 "03" straight Billiard that perfectly exemplifies Dunhill's approach to shape-chart standards and delivering a spot-on rendition with balanced proportions throughout while the hand-cut vulcanite stem tapers beautifully toward the lip button. Only two Snake Pipes in the Amber Root finish were created for this extremely limited-edition series with one of them presented here.

The accent work on this composition is stunning with a serpent fashioned from 9ct gold wrapping around the bowl and features intricately engraved scales along its body. To make this piece even more visually striking, a pair of diamonds were inlaid into the snake's eyes. The gold handsomely complements the warm hue of the Amber Root finish with the presentation box allowing for a safe and aesthetically pleasing way to admire this impressively rare piece of functional art.

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.