Dunhill: Shell Briar Quaint Churchwarden (3) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's Quaint series comprises pipes that don't fit within the storied English marque's standard shape chart and, as such, can include some striking, eye-catching designs. One of these designs is seen here: a lengthy Churchwarden with an alluring combination of features. The stem here is a sleek, extended taper of black vulcanite, arcing slightly as it travels out from a matching, domed military mount that allows for the stem's removal at any time, even while the pipe is hot. The shank is quite trim, though it has been carved in a compressed, ovoid shape that lends the mount the same shape, making for a sleek, low-profile look as it transitions out of the bowl. Said bowl is a pert, poised, Acorn-like bud of briar that takes on a gentle flare to a high-set waist before tapering to a smooth rim that does well to contrast the stummel's Shell Briar finish.

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.