Dunhill: Shell Briar (5603) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Here Dunhill matches the iconic bowl of their "03" Billiard with a Churchwarden stem. Presented here in Group 5 size, the pert Billiard bowl flows into a low-set, oval transition that gives way to a vulcanite military mount, allowing one to easily break down and clean the pipe while hot. The long Churchwarden stem bulges at its midsection before tapering back to the bit, balancing the weight along the elongated shape. Dressed in Dunhill's Shell Briar sandblast, the bowl offers a wealth of texture to explore, while the rim is left in a smooth 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.