Dunhill: Ruby Bark Quaint Bent Billiard (4) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

This bent Billiard is a member of Dunhill's Quaint series, which focuses on freehand-shaped pipes that stray from English firm's traditional shape-chart. However, this bent Billiard closely resembles Dunhill's "02," with one defining difference: the underside has been flattened. This stylistic choice alters the sinuous profile, adding some rigid definition and making this pipe a stable Sitter. Rendered in Group 4 size, the bowl feels robust in hand, and the shank-and-stem arrangement possesses an elongated, willowy profile. Additionally, this piece is dressed in Dunhill's rugged Ruby Bark finish.

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.