Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (4210) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

On Dunhill's shape chart, the "10" can designate either a Liverpool or a Bing's Favorite style of Billiard, with this Group 4 rendition representing the latter category. Usually, this design is married to a tapered stem; this piece, however is topped by a sleek, elongated saddle stem that stretches out the profile considerably. The shank is also rather lengthy, with the tall, rounded and bevel-rimmed Billiard bowl sitting sturdily atop a rounded heel. Part of a special series from Dunhill, this piece pairs the dark tones of the grain-defining Shell Briar sandblast to a cumberland mouthpiece and a textured silver band at the junction, with the dark ruby-hued rim matching the stem quite well.

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.