Dunhill: Dress Quaint Bent Billiard Sitter (4) (2019) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's bent Billiard renditions have become something akin to archetypes for the profile, owed to their timeless shaping and influence on the Anglo-French school of design. This example, however, is a member of Dunhill's Quaint line, and, as such, differs greatly from the more recognizable "02" shape, as this pipe features a flattened heel and gentle, languid curvature from the transition to the button. Additionally, the bowl is more curved, especially at the fore, though the aft side, too, is given a slight bow, allowing for the hand to easily grasp this striking briar. Found in the Dress finish, this piece displays a refined elegance with its junction band of sterling silver and glossy black stain.

One of the most fashionable finishes in all of pipe making and one that inspired an entire aesthetic, Dunhill's Dress finish was first introduced in 1973 as the Black Briar — renamed "Dress" in 1979 with the addition of silver — and is meant to elegantly complement a tuxedo or similar formal wear, perfect for a night on the town. Characterized by its glossy, jet-black stain and sterling silver accent band, the Dress finish exudes class and imbues each pipe it adorns with a sense of refinement and sophistication. It's the progenitor of the term "dress pipe," now used to reference any black-and-silver pipe, and is one of the most distinctive finishes in all of pipedom.