Dunhill: Ring Grain (5120) (2019) Tobacco Pipe

This Cherrywood shape from Dunhill is a sharp-looking pipe, with its forward-inclining bowl giving this beloved, utilitarian form a touch of playfulness. Rendered in Group 5 size, the bowl is generously chambered and the heel flattened, enabling it to sit stably, while the trim, round shank and downturned, vulcanite stem of this "20" piece provides a pleasant balance to the bowl. Elegant and stunning, it's featured in the dark, inky sandblast of the Shell Briar finish, with a smooth, lightly stained rim and growth rings striking enough to have earned it the coveted Ring Grain designation.

Having earned the English marque's prestigious Ring Grain designation, this Dunhill piece wears a particularly choice iteration of the Shell Briar sandblast — displaying stunning waves of ring grain across the stummel. 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.