English Estates: Dunhill Tanshell (5103) (1986) Tobacco Pipe

A brawny bit of English craftsmanship, this vintage Billiard from Dunhill is rendered in robust, Group 5 size and features a tall bowl that fills the fingers with thick, insulating walls. Said bowl stands proudly at the fore of an equally hearty shank-and-stem arrangement, which provides a nice touch of visual balance to the composition. It's all presented in the crisp Tanshell sandblast, providing a rugged texture to the natural grain orientation of the briar.

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.