Dunhill: Shell Briar (3105) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Wonderfully balanced between bowl and shank, this rendition of Dunhill's "05" Dublin exemplifies the classic shaping standards for which The White Spot is known. The silhouette of this Group 3 design could well serve as an archetypal example of the traditional straight Dublin. The bowl flares consistently to a flattened rim and is canted slightly forward to balance the stretch of shank and stem behind. The hand-cut vulcanite stem maintains the dark palette of the stummel, which wears a concise application of the Shell Briar sandblast

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.