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

Presented in Group 3 size, this Acorn belongs to Dunhill's Quaint series, a line of pipes that deviate from the marque's standardized shape chart. It possesses a pert bowl with a high-set waistline, flared rim, and steady downward taper to the heel. Said bowl is perched at the fore of a lengthy, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement for a sleek-streamlined appearance in profile. The dark Shell Briar sandblast dresses the briar and coaxes out rippling waves of growth rings across the flanks of the bowl for plenty of visual and tactile appeal.

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.