Dunhill: Shell Briar (4108) (2019) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "08" design is one of those curious anomalies in which it can correlate to more than one shape, either the Rhodesian or Bulldog, depending on the shank's round or diamond configuration. In this particular rendition, we see a more rounded bowl encircled by a single, wrapping ridgeline paired to a crisp diamond shank in moderate Group 4 size. The stem offers a quick downturn for a distinctive silhouette and is dressed in the marque's Shell Briar sandblast for a formal color palette.

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.