Dunhill: Shell Briar with Bamboo (3103) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill introduced their Whangee pipes during WWII and the years immediately after when briar was in short supply. Incorporating bamboo was a simple enough idea that both saved on briar and played off of preexisting fashions — the term "whangee" had already long been in use for bamboo canes (like those used by Charlie Chaplin in his role as the Tramp) and umbrellas, and even cigarette holders made by Dunhill themselves. The idea not only stuck around long after it had been put to use for the sake of practicality, it positively thrived. Here we have one of Dunhill's Whangee pipes in Group 3 size and featuring a classic "03" Billiard bowl dressed in the Shell Briar finish, with both the bamboo and briar elements coming together to make a seamless, sophisticated piece.

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.