Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (4104) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

This "04" Bulldog is part of a limited edition series from Dunhill, pairing dark Shell Briar sandblasts with cumberland stems rather than being topped by the typical jet-black vulcanite mouthpieces. This Group 4 rendition personifies elegance, its proportions classic and well balanced. The bowl boasts a smooth beveled inner rim and is wrapped with a single ridgeline rather than the twin beadlines often found on the shape. Additionally, this refined piece is accented with a gleaming silver band for further refinement.

While the English marque's Bulldog designs are informed by both "17" and "04" shape numbers, it's the latter seen here, in moderate Group 4 size. Replete with subtle beadlines, a domed, beveled rim, sloping flanks, and the classic form's crisp-lined diamond shank, this well-balanced pipe is typical of Dunhill's precise shaping style.

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 mostly dark palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.