Dunhill: Shell Briar (5128) (2018) Tobacco Pipe

Though a classic shape, the Diplomat is not one often fashioned, even by a workshop as traditional as Dunhill. As such, this Group 5 example is perfect for collectors of classic English pipes, with The White Spot's example here conforming perfectly to the archetypal form. The bowl is plumply round like an Author's, but the shank is oval of cross-section, making for a more trim shank-and-stem combination in profile. Furthermore, this piece is dressed in rugged Shell Briar sandblast, which lends a wealth of definition to the stummel's grain.

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.