Design Berlin Rugen Orange 9mm Bent Rhodesian 85040B

• Overall Length: 125mm
• Overall Height: 73mm
• Bowl Height: 46mm
• Bowl Diameter: 35mm
• Bore: 19mm
• Weight: 41g
• Filter: 9mm

Design Berlin Rügen Orange 9mm Bent Rhodesian 85040B I've always been fond of a Rhodesian. There's something about that rounded bowl and the two little grooves around its shoulders that makes it instantly recognisable. A shape with plenty of history behind it, and one that's served pipe smokers very well over the years.

The Design Berlin Rügen Orange 85040B is a particularly handsome example, finished in a deep reddish-orange stain that brings out some lovely character in the briar.

The colour is closer to a rich cherry red than a bright orange, with darker grain running through the wood. The polished surface catches the light beautifully, especially around the broad, rounded underside of the bowl.

And it's the bowl that deserves a closer look. A Rhodesian has a fuller, more rounded body than a traditional Billiard, narrowing towards the rim. Just beneath that upper section are two neatly cut circumferential grooves, a familiar feature of this old pipe shape.

The shank rises gently from the bowl into a curved black mouthpiece, giving the pipe a pleasing sweep from heel to button. A slim silver-coloured ring marks the join, while the small gold DB emblem adds a touch of contrast.

Design Berlinbegan life in the German capital, although its pipes are now made in Schweina, Thuringia. The Rügen collection takes its name from Germany's largest island, up on the Baltic coast. Quite a fitting name for a range that has a bit of individuality about it.

The 85040B is designed to take 9mm filters, in keeping with a longstanding preference among German pipe makers.

I particularly like the way the darker grain follows the contours of this one. Across the rounded bowl, the polished red finish gives the briar an almost glowing appearance, while the black stem keeps the overall design nicely balanced.

It's an attractive combination of traditional shaping and a rather striking finish.