Your most beautiful pipe

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #1

To me the most beautiful pipe I own is my Dunhill shell briar billiard with the sterling silver ring. To me this is the epitome of elegance and sophistication in pipes. I would go as far as to say it's the most beautiful pipe ever made. It's not the most smoked in my collection but it's the pipe I would smoke wearing a Tux at a prom or at a cocktail party (If such things were possible nowadays.). In fact she's one of the reasons I took up pipe smoking after ten years. I could simply not stand to sell it or leave it unattended in my den.



I look forward to see yours!

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• Aug 4, 2015

• #2

No way I could pick just one. I consider my two Kent Rasmussen pipes as two sides of the same coin and the pinnacle of pipe making.
I'm with you on Dunhill. The first Dunhill I bought was a 5128 black briar with a thick silver collar engraved with Dunhills street address. Something about black finish with silver band makes for a seriously handsome pipe. I'll never sell it.

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• Aug 4, 2015

• #3

Here's my 5128, cousin to yours...

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #4

Nice I have a similar one. . I have some issues with this one though (paint fading, draft hole too high).

Edit: fine watch choice too. When it comes to pipes and shoes it has to be britain for me. Watches? Swiss all the way!

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• Aug 4, 2015

• #5

Thank you! What shape is that one? It looks like a diplomat.

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #6

Yes. Diplomat I'd say.

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• Aug 4, 2015

• #7

I actually just bought another, a shell finish diplomat. It's my favorite Dunhill shape. I'm always keeping an eye out for them, but yours is the first Dress finish I've seen. I've seen it in every finish except Dress and Rubybark.

 

danielplainview

Lifer

Mar 30, 2014

2,853

78

wv

• Aug 4, 2015

• #8

My Marvic rhodie has a whole flock of birds and smokes like a champ. I'm having another made asap.

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #9

It is an estate refurbished pipe. Given that the paint job stains my fingers blue I seriously doubt that it was a dress leaving the Dunhill factory. I polished it to remove some of the paint and it turned into a dark charcoal with the grain shining through. I don't have a pic handy but it actually looks very nice that way.

 

iamn8

Lifer

Sep 8, 2014

4,248

14

Moody, AL

• Aug 4, 2015

• #10

It has "Dress" carved into it so that's a true dress Dunhill, at least it was at factory. That it has the dress silver.

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #11

You're right of course.

 

pruss

Lifer

Feb 6, 2013

3,558

370

Mytown

• Aug 4, 2015

• #12

I look forward to see yours!

Click to expand...

Boy, don't ask the easy question eh?
I have a number of pipes which I am captivated by because of their history, or their shape, or their finish, or their origin... but picking the MOST beautiful? That's a tough nut to crack. I have an early Parks bulldog which has wonderful rustication, a brushed silver band, and a delightfully black, white and silver marbled stem. But it isn't beautiful; at least to my definition. Same goes for the big Comoy's Blue Riband Extraordinaire bulldog. It is a wonderful pipe, but I wouldn't call it beautiful.
Here's how I'm qualifying most beautiful... The pipe I've chosen is a patent Sasieni 4 Dot Billiard. It is perfection in shaping, has wonderful grain, a beautiful finish and sort of nails "pipe" from an archetypal sense. It has function, form, design and mechanics all working for it: I love it, and I think it's beautiful.





-- Pat

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #13

@Dave. That's a real beauty. The birdseye pattern is stunning. How does she look from the side. Logically it should be a perfect straight grain.

 

thomasmartin

Can't Leave

Jul 13, 2015

324

1

Unesco world heritage

• Aug 4, 2015

• #14

Pat. That's a beautiful pipe for sure. It's interesting you chose a traditional design. Based on your avatar I would have thought you'd rather choose something more extravagant.

 

dmcmtk

Lifer

Aug 23, 2013

3,672

1,685

• Aug 4, 2015

• #15

Pat, what shape is that FOUR Dot (puh-leeze!!!) again, the Cromer?

 

pruss

Lifer

Feb 6, 2013

3,558

370

Mytown

• Aug 4, 2015

• #16

Pat, what shape is that FOUR Dot (puh-leeze!!!) again, the Cromer?

Click to expand...

Dave, as best as I can tell, it's an early "Temple Bar - Cromer"... but I don't know for certain. There is no shape number, and no shape name on this pipe. The only nomenclature on the shank is, "Sasieni. 150221/20. London Made." The nomenclature is in pretty good condition and does not appear to be any worse the wear for buffing.
-- Pat

 

dmcmtk

Lifer

Aug 23, 2013

3,672

1,685

• Aug 4, 2015

• #17

Huh, from what you are saying it sounds like a very early pipe!

 

jonasclark

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 4, 2013

741

387

Seattle

• Aug 4, 2015

• #18

Mine is this meerschaum bedouin. I've read that figural meerschaums went out of fashion by the early 1900s. No maker's name, just "Warranted Genuine Meerschaum." It's been smoked a lot, has become very heavy (from absorbing tobacco juices?) and still has its oxblood/dragon's blood faux coloring. The stem is a 1930s Bakelite replacement.
I think the carving is absolutely incredible. Like, museum quality. His face is so realistic, if it was modeled on a real face I think one could recognize the face in a photo. He has lots of wrinkles, and those beautiful languid eyes for which folk of that part of the world are famous. His head is looking slightly to his left, and his eyes slightly further left. The cloth draped around his face is blowing back on his left side, and the rope around the top overlaps on that side. The cloth is neatly tucked-in below his neck.
I found this pipe on Etsy, of all places, for a jaw-dropping price. I wish I knew more about it, or who might have carved it!

 

samcoffeeman

Can't Leave

Apr 6, 2015

441

4

• Aug 4, 2015

• #19

My Bennwik horn. I scored this very early on in his pipe making, the first pipe he ever sold actually, through the Danish Pipe Shop. This pipe now would be 3-4X the price I paid for it back then.

Here are the original pictures, somewhat miscolored, although you can see the phenomenal grain and shaping:

 

seacaptain

Lifer

Apr 24, 2015

1,829

7

• Aug 4, 2015

• #20

I only have 5 pipes. The best looking one is the Wessex, far left. Nice light brown stain and cumberland stem. It's the worst smoking pipe of the 5 though. My best pipe is the Sav GDO in the middle.