Dunhill: County Quaint Rhodesian (2) (2019) Tobacco Pipe

In a modest group 2 size, this Rhodesian from Dunhill belongs to their Quaint series, a line of pipes that deviate from the English marque's standard shape chart, often resulting in distinctive, highly collectible designs. This piece is certainly unique, as it pairs a firm, muscular Rhodesian bowl to a sleek, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement. The form's characteristic ridgeline is more reserved in this rendition than is typical, and it sits closer to the waist of the bowl, demarcating the subtly tapered rim from the rest of the stummel. The stummel wears the folksy, chestnut-hued County sandblast, which coaxes out some rippling waves of growth rings on all sides of the bowl. Stylish, distinctive, and all together charming, this piece presents a classic shape in a new light.

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.