Dunhill: Shell Briar (3204) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

This "04" Bulldog features a unique "beehive" pattern along the top of the bowl that replaces the shape's signature beadlines or ridgelines. If not for a bit of structural soundness at the heel and the diamond shank, this piece could almost be mistaken for a Billiard, as the English marque has opted for a sleek, streamlined aesthetic that trades the traditional muscularity associated with the shape for something decidedly leaner. The saddle stem of jet-black vulcanite tops the piece off quite nicely, it hues harmonizing well with the Shell Briar sandblast that dresses the stummel.

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.