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About Dunhill Dead Root: Difference between revisions
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The Dead-Root designation is tied to the type of Briar, which was reportedly "naturally cured" for hundreds of years while it was "dead." They speculated that the maturation process would begin shortly after the death of the tree, where the briar would sit undisturbed for decades--that only this way is it possible to obtain the exceptional grain that is required by the series. However, experts oppose this idea by arguing that as soon as the tree dies it immediately begins to decompose, and therefore would be completely unusable in a short period of time. Furthermore, grain is developed in the briar as the tree grows through the seasons. It is certainly not developing additional grain character when it is "dead", although it is likely changing in other ways as it cures. | The Dead-Root designation is tied to the type of Briar, which was reportedly "naturally cured" for hundreds of years while it was "dead." They speculated that the maturation process would begin shortly after the death of the tree, where the briar would sit undisturbed for decades--that only this way is it possible to obtain the exceptional grain that is required by the series. However, experts oppose this idea by arguing that as soon as the tree dies it immediately begins to decompose, and therefore would be completely unusable in a short period of time. Furthermore, grain is developed in the briar as the tree grows through the seasons. It is certainly not developing additional grain character when it is "dead", although it is likely changing in other ways as it cures. | ||
<blockquote><q>Then there are the straight grain designations, perhaps the ne plus ultra of pipe collecting. With Alfred Dunhill, this category takes on a whole new aura of exclusitivity. The rarest straight grains are stamped DR (which stands for “Dead Root,” referring to the underground burl of the heath tree from which the oldest and usually best-figured briar is cut). Currently, the DR series ranges from one to six stars; the more stars, the tighter and more uniform the grain. Beyond that, the DR designation ventures into the stratosphere of rarity with alphabetical letters, starting with DRG, and the even scarcer DRH. <br><br>Although very few DRHs have ever been produced, just such a bowl was recently uncovered as it was being hand-turned from an ancient burl, which proves that rarity is not just locked in the past. This particular pipe may very well end up being the most valuable Alfred Dunhill briar ever created. It is an exquisite Root Briar Oversized Dunhill straight grain DRH (the first DRH produced in recent times) that has been crowned and banded with 10 karats worth of diamonds that have been set into a platinum bowl rim and band. Even the presentation box that houses and protects this pipe is uniquely designed, with a weighted base that acts as a counter-balance when the lid it lifted. As of this writing, there is an attempt to get this platinum and diamond-studded Alfred Dunhill DRH acknowledged by The Guinness Book of World Records. With an estimated value of $150,000, it stands a good chance of receiving this recognition.</q> Alfred Dunhill: Preserving the Gentle Art of Smoking By Richard Carleton Hacker - SMOKE - Spring 2002</blockquote> | |||
So, while it is clear there are some doubts as to what makes "Deed-Root" briar exceptional, there is little doubt about it being extremely special in both beauty and smoking characteristics. The mystery and uncertainty makes these exceptional pieces even more interesting to enthusiastic collectors of the series. | So, while it is clear there are some doubts as to what makes "Deed-Root" briar exceptional, there is little doubt about it being extremely special in both beauty and smoking characteristics. The mystery and uncertainty makes these exceptional pieces even more interesting to enthusiastic collectors of the series. | ||