Dunhill: Ruby Bark (4117) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

The "17" is Dunhill's more broad and squat style of straight Bulldog, contrasting the taller, leaner shaping cues of the English marque's "04" rendition. Presented here in Group 4 dimensions, this "17" exudes stout muscularity in a convenient size — the robust proportions of the broad bowl matched by the stout, diamond shank. Though quite Tomato-like in terms of breadth and roundness, it still features the Bulldog's shape's characteristic beadlines, matching the structured nature of the shank. The crisp sandblast and vibrant stain of the marque's iconic Ruby Bark finish cover the stummel, with its palette contrasted handsomely by a band of silver at the junction.

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