Dunhill 2014 Shell Briar 4103 Dragon w/ Silver & Rubies Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

To veteran pipe smokers, Dunhill needs no introduction. Beginning in 1907, Alfred Dunhill began selling Dunhill pipes at the tobacconist shop he owned on London’s Duke Street. Very quickly, these pipes gained the reputation of being the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of pipes due to how expertly crafted they were. Today, Dunhill is likely Britain’s most famous pipe manufacturer, and continues to produce some of the most treasured pipes a smoker can buy.

Dunhill does not make a “pipe of the year” in the traditional sense, but rather has a few, extremely limited edition, annual releases, each with a specific theme. Starting in 1980, for example, Dunhill began releasing a “Christmas Pipe” with each passing winter, featuring pipes that each evoked some aspect of the season (such as the characters from Charles Dickens’ famous novel A Christmas Carol). Similarly, Dunhill has, for many years, released a limited edition pipe each Spring to celebrate the Chinese New Year, with each design being tied to the corresponding animal of the Zodiac for that year. But there are also some Dunhill pipes that take things a little further, being manufactured either only once or very occasionally, and in even more limited quantities than their annual counterparts. These are sometimes referred to as Dunhill’s “Rarity Pipes” and, if one wants to witness the highest heights of exclusivity, luxury, and sheer craft in Dunhill’s already exemplary output, these pipes are where to look. The “Dragon” series debuted in 2005 and production has been intermittent to say the least. One reason for this is that, while a Dunhill Dragon begins its life as a quite typical Shell Briar billiard, the bowl is subsequently wrapped with an intricate, gemstone-inlaid sculpture of a Chinese dragon. Why a dragon? As Dunhill’s sales brochure put it:

In ancient days the dragon was regarded as a most sacred animal and was used by Chinese emperors as an imperial symbol. Unlike the portrayal in the West where the dragon is evil, the Chinese dragon is a beneficent and gracious creature. It also serves as a symbol of good fortune as legend tells that the dragon first appeared in the sky while an heir to the throne was born and the country became blessed with peace and prosperity for many generations after.

Thus far, there have been two pipes in the Dunhill Dragon series. Both have been Shell Briars, with the difference being the precious metals and gemstones used in its decoration. In the case of this one, the main body of the dragon has been worked from sterling silver, while its “eyes” are two inset, round cut rubies. To top it off, the Dunhill Dragon comes in a custom-fitted, lacquered presentation box with a spring-loaded button latch.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. The pipe comes with its original presentation box.

Details:

Length: 5.9″ / 149.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″ / 36.83mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g