Dunhill » Dunhill: 56

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1992 Bruyere Bent Billiard Shape 56 with Gold Band

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Dunhill 1923 Bruyere "Ao" Shape 56 Bent Billiard

It's fascinating to observer the way in which Dunhill shapes have evolved over the years. Today, we know the Shape 56 as a kind of scaled-down shape 120 bent billiard; but from this pipe, made in the second year of Dunhill's in-house production, we see that it was originally quite different: larger, stouter, and with a shorter but capacious bowl. Dunhill graded the briar Ao, just one increment below the rare and extremely expensive Straight Grain. It's large for the era, notably graceful, extremely well executed, and in first rate condition in all regards, though the nomenclature is a bit weak. I predict it will be a wonderful smoker with either Virginia or English mixtures.

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Dunhill 1959 Bruyere Shape 56 Bent Billiard

The late '50's in Dunhill's workshops were something of a last hurrah for the older, apprentice trained craftsman, many of whom were now in their '70's. But they certainly knew how to select briar and cut a pipe. Consider this one, an especially compelling rendering of the classic bent billiard. What sets it apart is the elegance and refinement of the lines, and most of all the fact that it was cut directly across the grain of a very fine piece of plateaux briar, with the result that both sides of the bowl are thickly carpeted in dense birdseye. The rather pale but luminous "new style" bruyere color is also very attractive, and the condition is first rate in all regards.

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Dunhill 1983 "Special Grain" Bent Billiard

The eighties was a very tumultuous period at Dunhill. The company was in the process, at the behest of its new corporate owners and their accountants, of reinventing itself as a purveyor of high end accessories for the well heeled lady and gentleman. The future of the pipe business was hanging in the balance. During this period, the ODA series was discontinued; yet some of the largest and most harmonious pipes ever made by Dunhill were sold. On the other hand, some extremely ugly pipes were made, with odd shank treatments and other singular features. This pipe is in the former category, though it isn't an ODA. Rather it is a somewhat enlarged version of the famous Shape 56, with its rounded billiard bowl set on the end of a rather stout, tapered shank, and fitted with an arching taper bit. What makes this pipe unique is the stamping, which reads "Special Grain" (never seen before or since), and the excellent, DR quality straight grain all around the bowl and down the shank. It is very well executed, has excellent color and is in outstanding condition. If it had been marked as a "DR," it would be much higher. As it is, it's a remarkable value at the price.