Dunhill: Shell Briar Quaint Rhodesian (3) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

This particular style of Rhodesian dates back to the 1924 edition of Alfred Dunhill's catalog About Smoke: An Encyclopedia of Smoking. Similar to the traditional Rhodesian, it features a tapered upper bowl, demarcated by an equatorial ridgeline. However, here the rim's taper is noticeably concave rather than crisply beveled. Such a cue adds a more flourishing sense of curve to the profile, fitting in with that era's penchant for the Art Deco style, the movement having greatly influenced Alfred's About Smoke catalog. In fact, Dunhill offers an exclusive production of Art Deco two-pipe sets, showcasing several different vintage shapes. Here, though, it's offered on its own, in Group 3 size wearing the Shell Briar sandblast.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipesmoking 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.