English Estates: Dunhill Shell Briar (4110) (2015) (DK) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

On Dunhill's shape chart, the "10" can designate either a Liverpool or a Bing's Favorite style of Billiard, with this Group 4 rendition representing the former. The Liverpool shape offers a slight revision to the classic Canadian, forgoing the ovoid shank for a cylindrical one, resulting in a similar profile to an archetypal Billiard. However, the elongated shank and abbreviated tapered stem imbue this pipe with a sleek aura, which elegantly complements the supple contours of the Billiard bowl. Rendered here in Group 4 size and dressed in Dunhill's iconic Shell Briar finish, this "10" exudes a timeless appeal.

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.