Old pipe. Could it be a Namiki?

[SteC]

Hi everyone,
I found this old Dunhill, and according to Google Translate, the Japanese inscription says "Reviewer Namiki."
I'm looking for information on this. Thanks.

 

[Briarcutter]

Very interesting. I know nothing, but if I were to guess, I'd say it was done by the owner, maybe a name? Inlay could be gold. Nice old pipe, should clean up well. It would be interesting to know the history, good luck in your quest. I'm sure someone here has some good information for you.

 

[briarblues]

Namiki is a brand of Japanese pens which are known for their application of Urushi based lacquers and maki-e designs. Dunhill "items" are highly prized in Japan. Possibly the pipe was a "test" for a Dunhill pipe with an Urushi finish that was planned at that time??

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Here’s some background on the Dunhill-Namiki partnership:

Inkstable | Dunhill-Namiki Partnership | History, Craftsmanship & Some Impressive Editions Still Available Inkstable | Dunhill-Namiki Partnership | History, Craftsmanship & Some Impressive Editions Still Available - https://share.google/a4W8NZvJSP5rTWufD

What year make is the pipe? I wonder if this was some kind of presentation inscription for “Reviewer Namiki.” I wonder if there was some kind of book reviewer named Namiki, and he smoked a pipe and this was a gift. Some research could be done.

It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to know the back story on this pipe without some kind of provenance or paper trail, or even an anecdote from some family member of the previous owner. Everything will be speculation.

 

[SteC]

The only thing i know i s that i found it in a old box with others pipes. Two of the were dunhill.

 

[Briarcutter]

The only thing i know i s that i found it in a old box with others pipes. Two of the were dunhill.

Nice find!

 

[orlandofurioso]

Very nice.
Is the stem original, white spot ?

 

[Briarcutter]

Very nice.
Is the stem original, white spot ?

Good question.

 

[Hillcrest]

Could be a rare example of a test of Urishi lacquer on a Dunhill pipe ... ??? Some people are allergic to Urishi lacquer as its made from a plant similar to Sumac. Good Luck researching it ,,, maybe write to Dunhill with pictures and ask them. Could be a rare find for their archives. (Wishful thinking on my part...) Congratulations.

 

[Briarcutter]

Could be a rare example of a test of Urishi lacquer on a Dunhill pipe ... ??? Some people are allergic to Urishi lacquer as its made from a plant similar to Sumac. Good Luck researching it ,,, maybe write to Dunhill with pictures and ask them. Could be a rare find for their archives. (Wishful thinking on my part...) Congratulations.

That looks like an old piece, I believe I see "inner tube" and "patent". Did they do that lacquer back then?

 

[Hillcrest]

That looks like an old piece, I believe I see "inner tube" and "patent". Did they do that lacquer back then?

I know less than little about Dunhills but the patent number looks to be just before 1927 (???).
The Japanese were doing lacquer for hundreds of years

Dunhill Patent pipes 1910-1929 - Markings

www.pipephil.eu

 

[Briarcutter]

The Japanese were doing lacquer for hundreds of years

Yes, but I'm wondering if they did it on Dunhill then? I'm thinking it's an aftermarket modification. But I know much less about Dunhill than you do. I just guess a lot.

 

[Hillcrest]

Yes, but I'm wondering if they did it on Dunhill then? I'm thinking it's an aftermarket modification. But I know much less about Dunhill than you do. I just guess a lot.

I agree. Same. That's why I would write to Dunhill and ask them or at least send them an Email with photos. Maybe that was part of of the collaborative ideas they considered at the time. ??? Per @TheIronMonkey 's link they met in 1927 in London then again in 1930 in Japan. Maybe Namiki did it to showcase their talent ???
Disclaimer: Pure 100% genuine guessing here !!!

Apparently they collaborate in modern times:

Dunhill Namiki Maki-E Rakucho Limited Edition Tobacco Pipe - Kyusai Yoshida | eBay

Dunhill Namiki Maki-E Rakucho Limited Edition Tobacco Pipe. The pipe features a Rakucho in flight, which is an ancient and mythical phoenix-like bird of uncertain origin. In Oriental philosophy, it symbolizes a peaceful atmosphere in harmony with the universal life-spirit.

www.ebay.com

Al Pascià - Dunhill Namiki Two Carps - The White Spot - Online s

Perfect in every way, this Two Carps pipe is classified as "exceptional grade A". Finished in black lacquer, it has a handmade stem crafted from high-qualit

www.alpascia.com

 

[xrundog]

Cool Dunhil!

 

[Sig]

Japanese is difficult to translate into English. This may be a pipe which a Namiki artist put the gold writing on as a sample of their work.
The "Reviewer Namiki" could be more of a "Namiki up for review", as in a sample for review for Dunhill executives.
Just a thought.

 

[GKChesterton]

That's a rare pipe. Nice find!

 

[Briarcutter]

What ever it's meaning it looks every well done. Which isn't surprising, the Japanese were/are very talented and attention to detail oriented. It's worth noticing that the pipe looks very well used but the gold characters still look very new and detailed, color is still intact. If that was done in the late 1920's era it survived amazingly well. As suggested, I would surely write Dunhill with photographs.

 

[georged]

I'm gonna guess it was a gift from some employees to their boss:

 

[wyfbane]

Wow. That is a neat historical artifact. Congratulations on finding 2 Dunhills in a box. Great find.

 

[mingc]

This is the translation I got from Google Lens. Kinda makes sense.

The only thing i know i s that i found it in a old box with others pipes. Two of the were dunhill.

Where are you located?