Dunhill: Shell Briar (4113) (2016) Tobacco Pipe

While many of Dunhill's shapes maintain their form and proportions across the English marque's various Group sizes, the "13" bent Apple takes on an Egg-like appearance at the larger end of the size spectrum. Traditionally, in Group sizes 1-3, the "13" presents as a squat, rounded shape, but in this plump Group 4 size, the design possesses a tall bowl with a wide, plump heel that tapers gradually upwards to the rim. Nonetheless, the shape is rather handsome, offering a stellar in hand presence and boasting a fittingly capacious tobacco chamber. The dark, inky tones of the Shell Briar sandblast and the matching hues of the mouthpiece provide the design with a fetching, understated color palette.

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.