Dunhill: Shell Briar (3204) (2023) Tobacco Pipe

An archetypal design from Dunhill's timeless shape chart, this "04" Bulldog epitomizes streamlined and muscular Anglo-French shaping. The pert bowl possesses two conical domes that meet at a crisp, mid-set waistline, imbuing the piece with a sturdy character. Out back, the arrow-straight diamond shank continues the geometric motif, the sharp ridges framing the keen profile of the "04" in pointed detail. Topped off by a sleek saddle stem, this Group 3 piece is dressed in the dark sandblast of Dunhill's Shell Briar finish.

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.