NUMBER 12 of 88

The Imperial Dragon is a legendary, mythical creature in Chinese and East Asian culture.

It was the Emperors’ of China personal symbol of imperial strength, power and authority.

During the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), the two-horned five-clawed dragon was designated for use by the Son of Heaven or Emperor only, while the four-clawed dragon was used by princes and other nobles. Similarly, during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1911–1912) dynasties, the five-clawed “Long” dragon was strictly reserved for use by the Emperor only.

Descriptions of Chinese dragons do differ, but often they are described to possess the head of a horse (or camel or crocodile), four legs, the tail of a snake, the scales of a carp, the horns of a deer, the claws of an eagle, the ears of a cow and they are often depicted with a white (or flaming) pearl in their claws or under their chin or in their mouth.

The ancient Chinese identified themselves as “Descendants of the dragon” as the Chinese dragon represented evolution from the ancestors and qi energy. Still today, excellent and outstanding people are sometimes compared or referred to as “dragons”.

During the Qing dynasty, the Azure-blue Dragon was featured on the first Chinese national flag.

The Imperial Dragon pipes have been created and manufactured as limited edition pipes to inform about the importance of the Imperial Dragon to Chinese and East Asian history and culture.

The Imperial Dragon pipe is classic Billiard pipe in size group 4 (4103).

It is fitted with a precious metal & precious gemstones windshield in form of a remarkably detailed hand-sculptured Imperial Dragon and also is mounted with an engraved precious metal band.

The highly collectable Imperial Dragon pipes are presented in a prestigious leather-bound book and come with hand-signed limited edition certificates.

In terms of limited edition serial numbers, all numbers containing a digit “4” have been excluded

and all number “1” pipes will remain in the White Spot archive in London and are not for sale.

These editions are strictly limited to world-wide only 

-     7 pipes in Amber Root & 9ct yellow Gold & Sapphire Eyes  (“Limited Edition of 8”)

-   70 pipes in Bruyere & Sterling Silver & Ruby Eyes                          (“Limited Edition of 88”)

-   70 pipes in Cumberland & Sterling Silver & Ruby Eyes       (“Limited Edition of 88”)

-   70 pipes in Shell Briar & Sterling Silver & Ruby Eyes         (“Limited Edition of 88”)

Subject                         - Imperial Dragon symbol in Chinese and East Asian history and culture

Shape                           - classic Billiard shape (4103)

                                    - best-selling White Spot shape

Size                              Gp. 4 – medium to large size

Finishes                        - Amber Root:  smooth finish, orange colour, Vulcanite mouthpiece.

Introduced in 1995

- Bruyere:        smooth finish, mahogany colour, Vulcanite mouthpiece.

First White Spot pipe finish, introduced in 1910

- Cumberland:  sandblasted finish, brown colour, Cumberland mouthpiece. Introduced in 1979

- Shell Briar:    sandblasted finish, black colour, Vulcanite mouthpiece.

                        Shell Briar was the first sandblasted pipe in the world, 

invented by Alfred Dunhill in 1917

Mouthpieces                Taper Vulcanite or Cumberland mouthpieces, individually cut, shaped, and finished for each single pipe.

Dragon windshields     Hand-sculpted model, cast in precious metals and set with precious gemstones:

                                    - Sterling Silver windshields: 

Weight approx. 30 grams, set with 2 red rubies (shape: round, 

diameter 2mm each, total weight 0.09ct)

- 9ct Yellow Gold windshields: 

Weight approx. 36 grams, set with 2 blue Sapphires (shape: round, 

diameter 2mm each, total weight 0.09ct)

Precious metal bands    10mm precious metal band, surface mounted, engraved with text “Imperial Dragon” & dragon symbols.

- Sterling Silver            = 92.5% pure silver

                                    - 9ct Gold        = 37.5% pure gold

Presentation book        - Prestigious leather bound book

                                    - Front image detail taken from an original 

robe of Chinese emperor, possibly from the 

Qing dynasty

Limited Edition                        Exclusive & highly collectable.

As all edition numbers containing a digit ‘4’ have been excluded, the actual quantity of Imperial Dragon pipes manufactured and the edition numbers stamped are not the same as explained below.

Also, all number “1” pipes are kept in our White Spot archive in London and are not for sale.

Bruyere, Cumberland and Shell Briar:

Although stamped up to “88 of 88”, only 70 units each have been manufactured, of which 69 units each will be offered for sale.

Amber Root:

Although stamped up to “8 of 8”, only 7 units have been manufactured, of which only 6 units will be offered for sale.

Certificate                    Individually numbered and signed between 1 and 8 (or 88)

(omitting all numbers containing a ‘4’).