American Estates: J. Alan Smooth Anglerfish (200) (2008) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

J. Alan pipes are handmade in San Diego, California by Jeff Gracik, the artisan imbuing his work with a distinctly Danish aesthetic while hewing close to the style of the American masters, expertly balancing plump curves with robust musculature. Gracik's Anglerfish is a remarkable shape, displaying an aesthetic touched by multiple different profiles and thoroughly steeped in the organic, dynamic look of the Japanese school. More specifically, this pipe is immediately reminiscent of the work of Japanese master Hiroyuki Tokutomi thanks to its striking display of motion and momentum, keeping the eye locked on all the baroque details comprising its outline. Bearing a passing resemblance to the bent Dublin in profile, thanks to the upright, flaring bowl and gently curving shank and stem out back, every other element of this pipe's construction immediately sets it apart from that base shape.

There's the distinct appearance of the Blowfish about this shape which fuses its flowing central line with a baroque pattern of wrapping ridges that frame the flanks of the bowl, shank, and stem. From the right flank of the stem's bit, a pair of these ridges begins, the gap between them expanding slowly in concert with the briar and vulcanite, staying taut enough to remain constrained by the briar before the lower line dissipates near the underside. The top ridge finds its way to the transition before making a sharp upturn and terminating at the aft edge of the rim: where it splits into four disparate ridges that then spread out to line the rim and back of the bowl in lockstep with a similar pattern of ridges on the left flank. The result of these near-twin patterns is a geometric arrangement of panels, including a lenticular pair at the flanks of the rim, a lengthy panel across the underside, a sharply tapering panel at the top of the shank and aft of the bowl, and two large panels on either side of the bowl that showcase an eye-catching asymmetry. The rim here is unique as well, showcasing its own lenticular look, as the middle is indented with a vertical line, which acts as the endpoint for a curving ridge on either side that lifts the briar to bring its shaping into further prominence.

The most arresting element of this pipe's construction, however, is the flicking, momentum-rich "lure" that drapes over from the left flank of the stem to the right, comprising a long, tapering extension of black vulcanite that cements the visual weight of the pipe directly over the transition. The lure begins midway up the stem and pushes out to a firm ridge, where it swiftly curls over and extends, tapering and reaching a point just slightly before touching the bowl. As with the other elements of this pipe's complex construction, the lure is framed by a number of other ridges that follow its curving trajectory and grant it an even more dynamic look: redoubling the taper on both the right and left side in the form of sleek panels. The style of the lure reminds me of some of Tokutomi's Freehand works, and it serves much the same effect here, elevating this pipe to the realm of functional sculpture and enhancing Gracik's impeccable shaping. Dressing this pipe is a warm, rich, mahogany-hued stain that unveils vast oceans of swirling birdseye across both sides of the briar, with cross grain through the midsection, making every inch of this piece a phenomenal display of the burl's natural patterns.