Dunhill: Crosby Ruby Bark Two Pipe Set (7/14) (2022) (with Ventage Case) Tobacco Pipe

This two pipe set from Dunhill honors Bing Crosby and the famous song White Christmas. Originally composed by Irving Berlin for the film Holiday Inn, Crosby was the first to perform the song live on his radio show in 1941. Although countless other singers would cover the song, Crosby is indelibly associated with White Christmas, as his single has gone on to sell well over 50 million copies. Fittingly, this two pipe set offers Bing Crosby's signature pipe shape, a lean Billiard with an elongated shank and stem. Presented here are Dunhill's "1110" and "1210," the pipes distinguished by a tapered and saddle stem respectively. Additionally, they are dressed in the warm, festive hues of Dunhill's Ruby Bark finish, which is complemented by a prestigious 9ct gold band at the junction of the sleek shank and stem. Dunhill only made 14 of these sets, with this particular piece serialized "7," making this offering one of the British marque's most exclusive.

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.