Dunhill: Shell Briar (3229) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

This is a rare shape from Dunhill. The English marque's "29" Author, though a shape chart standard, simply isn't fashioned as often as their more prolific Billiard and Bulldog and other archetypal designs. Further commending this piece is the saddle stem — designated by the second "2" in the shape stamp, as opposed to the more often seen "1" tapered mouthpiece. Saddle-stemmed variations of Dunhill's "29" are even rarer, making this Group 3 piece quite the collectible find.

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.