Dunhill: County (5117) (2019) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "17" Bulldog is arguably one of the marque's most iconic and recognizable shapes, its firm muscularity and proud bowl standing apart from other, less hearty renditions. This example, however, is unlike any I have ever seen from the English giant, bridging the gap between a Bulldog and a Tomato, keeping the diamond shaped shank and stem with its structural ridgelines, but opting for a very different bowl shape. The transition is more of a gradual slope that ascends only slightly to the squat bowl, seemingly finding the rim first, bulging out a bit to accommodate for the supple flare that takes the place of the form's usual ridgeline or beadline. The bowl is incredibly squat, and its soft rounding speaks to a more demure demeanor, but the heel it rests on is styled more like the shank, creating a captivating balance between softness and firmness that holds the eye, the pipe's Group 5 size giving ample area to be appreciated as well as plenty space for the County finish to dress.

Like the Cumberland finish, Dunhill's County line pairs rich, cumberland stems with delightfully textured sandblasts. Typically, County pieces wear a lighter stain, often falling between the Cumberland and Tanshell hues, and since its introduction in 1986, with only a brief hiatus, the County remains stalwart within Dunhill's portfolio, especially desired by lovers of brindled vulcanite and warm sandblasts.