This pipe has now been sold. We have left the listing for historical reference and interest
Alfred Dunhill The challenge of a Dunhill history is to separate myth and legend from the history. This however, may be impossible. The story of Alfred Dunhill is so tied up with myth that the myths are now part of the history. Alfred opened a small factory of his own in 1910. He set down two principles that would guide the production of Dunhill Pipes. First, pipes would be made of only the finest quality briar, with exacting care by expert craftsmen. Secondly, the pipes would be priced accordingly; the customer would recognize the value of a superior product. This ran counter to the current trend of inexpensive pipes of poor quality that one simply discarded after a short while. The Dunhill pipe was made to last a lifetime and always with an eye to utility. It must smoke well and continue to do so with age.
Alfred Dunhill White Spot In 1915, the famous white spot was introduced for very practical concerns. With straight pipes, customers had trouble knowing which way to insert the handmade vulcanite mouthpieces. So Alfred Dunhill ordered white spots to be placed on the upper side of the stem. This very practical solution would become a definitive trademark of Dunhill pipes. The “white spot” soon became known as a symbol of quality.
Cumberland Briar Pipes The Cumberland finish was first introduced in 1979. The pipes are sandblasted with a brown stain and had a brindled, vulcanite stem. Originally, the Cumberland always featured a smooth brown rim, but in the current production the rim is sometimes smooth, sometimes sandblasted. Occasionally, a straight grain blast is finished with a Cumberland stain and a “Shilling Grain,” similar to the “Ring Grain,” resulting in a new variation on the traditional sandblast. The Shilling series is named for the British coin: the sandblast looks like a stack of shillings. Named after the warehouse on Cumberland Road. The old pipes that inspired this finish were found there.
Dunhill Size Groupings
Although scarcity of fine briar has always necessitated the pricing of Dunhill according to the amount of root employed in their manufacture, it is important to remember that, irrespective of size and price, they are of one quality only – the finest. The bowls are sorted into 6 groups.
Group 1 Small
Group 2 Medium to small
Group 3 Medium
Group 4 Medium to Large
Group 5 Large
Group 6 Extra large
ONE OFF PIPE: This is a one off pipe and the pipe in the picture is the exact pipe you will receive. Please note that colour varies depending on your computer monitor and may not replicate the colour exactly.