Dunhill: Shell Briar (2105) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

The "05" Dublin on Dunhill's shape chart is a design that scales exceptionally well across the English marque's various Group sizes. By that, I mean that if judging only by pictures, a certain rendition's true size is difficult to determine because the White Spot's shaping and proportions are so balanced and coherent. In effect, then, a Group 3 example could look extremely similar to this Group 2 version based on the relative proportions of the pictures, just with increased dimensions all around. Sleek and streamlined through the shank and stem, it presents a conservatively flared, stoic bowl on the end and is dressed in the ever-classic Shell Briar sandblast, its form made more distinctive thanks to a black vulcanite military mount.

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.