Dunhill: Ring Grain with Silver (3110) (2024) Tobacco Pipe

With its lengthy shank-and-stem combination, this beautiful Dunhill "10" is longer of stem than most Lumberman shapes, calling to mind long, elegant, refined Billiards, like the pieces often seen accompanying Bing Crosby in old photographs. Its trim, elegant proportions make it particularly well-suited to a presentation like the one seen here, as it's dressed in the extra-dark stain of the legendary marque's Shell Briar sandblast. A bright band of sterling silver provides some brilliant contrast and further accentuates this piece's dress pipe aesthetic.

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.