English Estates: Dunhill Tanshell (6127) (4) (T) (1963) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "27" design was a rounded style of straight Billiard, most often fitted to a saddle stem. Such a choice of stem thrusts the visual weight toward the hearty stummel, the shank and bowl both robust and muscular. Typically, the first number in the 4-digit shape stamp denotes the Groups size (Group 6 in this case), but on early pieces a circled number often meant the Group size, which would make this 1935 piece a Group 4 by that metric. The stamping here seems to contradict each other, but based on the chamber dimensions, I'd say this falls closer to Group 6 than it does to Group 4. Regardless, there's plenty of room for your favorite blend, and it's all dressed in a well-patinated rendition of the esteemed Tanshell sandblast.

Created in 1951, the Tanshell marked Dunhill's fourth finish behind the Bruyere (1910), Shell Briar (1917), and Root Briar (1931); however, Dunhill didn't complete the "Tanshell" stamp until December 1951, waiting until 1952 to actually introduce the first Tanshell pipes. Considered one of the English marque's rarest, most collectible finishes, the Tanshell boasts a concise sandblast but unlike the dark-stained Shell Briar, the Tanshell is naturally stained, intended to develop a warm patina as it darkens with prolonged use over time.