American Estates: J. Alan Smooth Bent Billiard with Horn (1955) Tobacco Pipe

One of the most talented pipe makers in North America, and the world for that matter, Jeff Gracik of J. Alan pipes fashions expertly engineered compositions that are highly sought after and admired for their shaping, grain, and excellent smoking properties. The American artisan's stylistic range is impressively diverse, as Gracik is able to craft beautiful shape-chart standards as well as more complex, organically inspired designs. This elegant bent Billiard demonstrates Jeff's talents with classic shapes and his tasteful use of accenting materials.

A striking design, this piece features a pronounced bowl that's thrust into visual prominence by a lifted heel. The broad, plump heel tapers gradually toward the taut rim, lending a subtle roundness to the bowl's flanks and producing an ergonomic in-hand presence. Subtle cheeking along the low-set transition accentuates the bowl's supple contours and forward drive. An upturned shank and demurely curved saddle stem bring up the rear and add a touch of gesture to the shape's profile. A ruby-hued smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights dense clusters of birdseye across the bowl's flanks, while an accent of horn adorns the junction and provides a pop of vibrancy to the shape's otherwise reserved palette.