English Estates: Dunhill Shell Briar with Silver (4407) (2003) Tobacco Pipe

Rendered in Group 4 size, this "07" Prince from Dunhill deftly illustrates the shape's iconic poise. The bowl is squat and plump, its walls tapering from a broad heel toward a flat rim. Out back, an abbreviated shank transitions from the bowl and pairs to a gracefully bent tapered stem, the latter of which promotes a comfortable smoking posture. Dunhill's iconic Shell Briar finish dresses the stummel in a crisp, inky sandblast, with the junction's silver accent band offering a bright contrast.

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.