Bulldog and Rhodesian

Bulldog and Rhodesian are a pair, instantly recognizable, among the classic pipe shapes. Both have a body that resembles two cones set base to base, with the body's widest point most often encircled by one or two beadlines. What separates the two shapes has been debated for as long as anyone can remember; for that reason they're usually treated together, under a single heading, in comparison.

Double-Cone Body and Beadlines

What gives the shape its character is the geometry of the bowl: the lower section forms a cone widening upward, the upper section a cone narrowing toward the rim. The line where the two cones meet, the widest point, is emphasized by beadlines running around it. These lines aren't purely decorative — they mark the join of the two cones. Since these lines are generally cut on the lathe, working them clean and symmetrical, especially on a handmade pipe, is taken as a sign of skill. Against the calm cylinder of the Billiard shape, the double-cone body offers a sharp-lined, almost architectural look. For the naming of body sections, see the pipe anatomy entry.