Dunhill: Shell Briar Quaint Bent Billiard with Silver (2) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's bent Billiard renditions have become something akin to archetypes for the profile, owed to their timeless shaping and influence on the Anglo-French school of design. This Group 2 example, however, is a member of Dunhill's Quaint line, and, as such, differs greatly from the more recognizable "02" shape, as this pipe features a more canted bowl, languid curvature from the transition to the button, and a more svelte, elongated profile. Additionally, the bowl is more curved, almost Egg-like, allowing for the hand to easily grasp this striking briar. A lovely application of the Shell Briar sandblast dresses this piece in a deep, inky stain, and it's handsomely accented by a trim ring of sterling silver.

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.