Dunhill: Ruby Bark (4144) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Although Dunhill's shape chart features countless archetypal renditions of pipe shapes, it also includes several unorthodox standouts, the creative Poker designs of the "44" Duke and "45" Don chief among them. Presented here, the "44" Duke is devoid of a shank, instead featuring a metal tenon on the stem base that joins directly to the push-style mortise. Furthermore, the bowl possesses a flat base set at a tilt, making this pipe a stable Sitter with a forward-urging stance. Similarly, the lengthy stem imbues the piece with a gracile flow that accentuates the elegant momentum of the composition. Offered here in classic Group 4 size, this "44" is dressed in Dunhill's 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.