Dunhill: Ring Grain with Silver (4111) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

In Group 4 size, Dunhill's "11" Lovat shape starts to take on some subtle, seemingly Italian proportions. The bold bowl up front offers no shortage of chamber, the relative size between shank and bowl emphasized more so than, say, Group 2 or 3 numbers. Arrow straight out back, the elongated shank and abbreviated stem remain rather compact, making for an elegant piece that offers a generous chamber within a relatively compact size overall. Found here in the Shell Briar finish, it exhibits an especially noteworthy grain orientation and earned the marque's esteemed Ring Grain stamp, the highest designation a Shell Briar pipe can receive. An intricate band of sterling silver graces the shank before leading into the sandy ink hues of the hand-cut brindled vulcanite stem. This piece was crafted as part of a limited-edition run of pipes that feature colorful, brindled vulcanite stems and would be a remarkable addition to any Dunhill collection.

Having earned the English marque's prestigious Ring Grain designation, this Dunhill piece wears a particularly choice iteration of the Shell Briar sandblast — displaying stunning waves of ring grain across 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.