Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (3203) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

For many people, the Billiard is the archetypal pipe shape, the one that instantly comes to mind when one thinks of a pipe and one that has withstood the test of time for well over a century. Dunhill's "03" is that traditional profile distilled to its purest form, with this "3203" example pairing the timeless shape to a rather lengthy saddle stem, making for an extremely sleek silhouette. This stem balances the visual weight of the bowl quite well thanks to its reach, and sits at the aft end of a fairly trim shank. The bowl here is pert and slightly plump, taking on a slight taper from the rounded heel to the smooth, ruby-stained, chamfered rim, while a gentle forward cant adds a touch of dynamism. Part of a special series from the White Spot, this piece pairs the inky tones of the Shell Briar sandblast to a cumberland stem and an elegant silver band at the junction.

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.