Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (3407) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

The Prince is one of the most elegant shape-chart standards to come out of the Anglo-French tradition, pairing clean, sleek lines with ample curves to great effect. Dunhill's "07" example of the profile makes this elegance look almost effortless. Coming to us in two different styles, both straight and bent, this bent iteration is poised and primed for comfortable smoking. The lengthy stem takes on a gentle downturn at the bit as it ebbs out of the trim shank, the combination doing well to balance the plump bowl. Said bowl is supple and wonderfully rounded, with a gentle forward cant and slanted rim, its contours fitting the fingers excellently. This piece is a member of a special series from the White spot, pairing the inky Shell Briar sandblast with a cumberland mouthpiece, textured silver band at the junction, and a ruby-stained rim.

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.