Dunhill: Ruby Bark (4645) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Referred to as the "Don" shape, Dunhill's "45" design is a specific rendition of the Poker that has gained a considerable following over the decades. Like the traditional Poker, Dunhill's Don features a slightly canted, cylindrical, and sturdy-sitting bowl with a raised transition. The stem of the Don, however, is longer and slightly bent, fitting mount-style into the abbreviated shank. This specific example features a Churchwarden stem, the lithe length of vulcanite making the profile of this piece all the more graceful, ideal for a reading pipe. Cementing the collectability of this pipe is the Ruby Bark sandblast across the stummel, a rare finish for this shape.

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, crisp aesthetic accents of sterling silver for a colorful presentation that still retains a high level of formality.