English Estates: Dunhill Shell Briar (41032) (1981) Tobacco Pipe

This 1981 "03" Billiard by Dunhill is rendered in Group 4 sizing and maintains lightweight and compact proportions. Due to its flat underside, this pipe is also a Sitter, making it an ideal option for multitaskers. Up front, the bowl possesses a slight forward urge as its walls rise to form the classic cylindrical silhouette of a Billiard. From the transition, the rounded shank extends before quickly meeting a tapered vulcanite stem that takes up the majority of the aft. The black pigment of the mouthpiece complements the dark Shell Briar finish dressing the stummel.

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.