American Estates: J. Alan Smooth Bent Dublin (1058) (2015) Tobacco Pipe

Jeff Gracik of J. Alan Pipes has earned a worldwide reputation for his pipes, having learned from American greats Todd Johnson and Jody Davis before developing his own distinct style. Gracik's work combines the curvaceous, gestural shaping of Danish designs with the compact muscularity seen in American pipe making. Showcasing J. Alan's Danish influences, this bent Dublin blends the flaring stature of the classic Dublin shape with a Rhodesian-like character. When viewed from above, the silhouette of the bowl is softly pinched, with the flanks gently converging to form an apex along the face of the bowl. Much like a Rhodesian, the bowl's heel is subtly pinched, while a faint ridgeline demarcates the sleek tapering of the domed rim. The aft of the composition carries a classic Danish design cue, with a sleek undercurvature that flows through the lenticular shank and a demurely curved vulcanite stem. Shaped to showcase captivating grain, the stummel features flame grain rising along the bowl's flanks and a dense sea of birdseye around the rim.