Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (5120) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "20" Cherrywood features a tall, cylindrical bowl that sits sturdily atop a flattened heel and cants gently forward. This particular example pairs that dynamically posed bowl to an upturned shank and demurely curved mouthpiece, the latter of which encourages a comfortable smoking posture. This Group 5-sized rendition of the shape is part of a limited-edition series from Dunhill, and as such, it marries the English marque's shadowy Shell Briar sandblast to a cumberland mouthpiece, resulting in a highly unique and eye-catching color palette. For further visual intrigue, the junction between the shank and stem is accented with a shiny band of sterling silver, elevating the composition's already brilliant presentation.

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.