English Estates: Dunhill Shell Churchwarden (4603) (1991) Tobacco Pipe

Churchwardens from Dunhill are a rare commodity, with few coming through the estate market and the ones produced today generally found in the English marque's Quaint line, making this "4603" an even more uncommon example. This 1991 Group 4 size pipe features a Billiard bowl paired to a lissome, lightly downturned Churchwarden mouthpiece, measuring 10 inches in total length. The stummel is dressed in the timeless and iconic sandblast of the Shell Briar line, lending it a wealth of texture while unveiling some handsome grain throughout.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.