Dunhill: Shell Briar (4412) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

The "12" shape designation on Dunhill's standard shape chart denotes a Chimney/Stack bowl. In this particularly Group 4 version, that stummel is fitted to a slightly bent stem as denoted by the second "4" stamp in the nomenclature. Such a pairing adds more gesture to the silhouette and lends the bowl the impression of a forward cant, while also more evenly distributing the pipe's weight. The tall, deep-chambered bowl is appreciatively dressed in the Shell Briar sandblast, affording plenty of surface area to enjoy the finish's texture.

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.