Root Briar with Bamboo (DR***) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's bamboo-adorned pieces are also referred to as "Whangee" pipes. The term comes from the Mandarin word for bamboo, huáng lí, and was used to describe canes and umbrellas with bamboo handles throughout the early to mid-1900s before being attributed to pipes — Dunhill's in particular. The organic, knuckled material came to prominence in pipe making during the briar shortage that accompanied and followed WWII. As a means of saving on briar, pipe makers would extend the shank with bamboo, as seen here on this bent Billiard. While a shortage of briar no longer informs the use of bamboo accoutrements, the aesthetic has become a staple within pipe making, Dunhill's "Whangees" having been an integral part of that history.

Dunhill's "DR" designation on certain Root Briars signifies a special class of pipes: Dead Root. Like all Root Briars, these pieces maintain flawless briar, but with especially choice grain on display. Before the Root Briar line's introduction in 1931, "DR" was stamped on Bruyere pipes that showed handsome grain, but Dunhill wanted a more grain-defining finish, leading to the creation of the Root Briar. Starting in 1979, The White Spot extended the grade further — replacing the letter grading system with stars, increasing in prestige from one to seven. A Dead Root pipe represents the best of Dunhill's standard selection, yet remains quite rare compared to the English marque's overall lineup.