Dunhill » Dunhill 1926 Bruyere "Ao" Prince Military Mount

Bezugsquelle: http://www.finepipes.com

Dunhill had a long-standing relationship with the British Royal Family, and most particularly with Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, an avid pipe smoker. This shape, the Prince, was apparently named after him, the only one of the classic shapes to be named after an individual. It is found in a number of variations, some small with a rather flat bowl, others larger, with an almost spherical bowl. It normally has rather short, tubular or tapered shank, and a long, elegant bit, sometimes with a gentle curve.

This example is striking for several reasons. First, it's a very large pipe for the era, almost a Group 5 in capacity. It's cut from the highest grade of the Bruyere finish short of the DR/straight Grain, marked Ao. It has a sterling military mount or cup, with the <AD> stampings of course, into which inserts a beautifully cut, handmade German vulcanite taper bit with ivory dot and mild fishtail.

It's in virtually pristine condition in all regards, with a notably clean rim, an intact original finish, and a bit free bit. All of this bespeaks the care with which it was treated by its former owner. Whether you regard the tenuous connection to royalty as of any significance, there is no doubt whatever that this is an excellent and desirable pipe.