Dunhill: Ring Grain (806) (ODA) (F/T) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

One of Dunhill's most coveted lines, the "800" series offers large, robust renditions of the English marque's classic shapes, many of which are also awarded an ODA or ODB designation. This particular "806" is a fetching design that sees a plump, rounded bowl poised at the fore of an arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement. Even given this pipe's hearty size and build, the proportions here are spot on and precisely rendered, with the bowl, shank, and stem all harmoniously aligned within the composition. It's dressed in the inky Shell Briar sandblast, which highlights a showing of ring grain so gorgeous that Dunhill awarded this piece their Ring Grain designation.

Having earned the English marque's prestigious Ring Grain designation, this Dunhill piece wears a particularly choice iteration of the Shell Briar sandblast — displaying stunning waves of ring grain across 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.