Dunhill: Shell Briar Quaint Bent Billiard with Silver (4) (2017) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's Quaint line offers unique designs that do not adhere to the English marque's standard shape chart. The designs are both highly creative and highly collectible, and this bent Billiard is no exception. Presented in handy Group 4 size, this piece pairs a tall bowl to a trim, upturned shank and a protracted tapered mouthpiece, the latter of which arcs subtly toward the bit for a comfortable smoking posture. The bowl boasts a subtle forward cant that keeps the shape looking active in profile, its active posture contrasted by the rearward flow of the shank-and-stem arrangement. The crisp, inky Shell Briar sandblast dresses the stummel and highlights striking grain across the bowl and shank alike, while a sterling silver accent adorns the junction and ties the composition together with a touch of flash.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipesmoking 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.