J. Alan Partially Sandblasted Nautical Dublin (988) (2014) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Muscular proportions and organic shaping cues abound in the portfolio of Jeff Gracik, the artisan behind J. Alan pipes. Gracik draws from both Danish and American influences, both of which are readily evident in this Nautical Dublin.

A clean, crisp ridgeline wraps around the stummel with graceful fluidity, flowing down the shank's right flank and into the fore of the bowl. In doing so, said ridgeline lends the bowl's fore an appearance similar to that of a ship's bow, hence this pipe's "Nautical" name. Underscored by a smooth, steady curve, the thick shank lifts up gracefully to join the arcing saddle stem.

This offering presents a striking combination of tones and textures: The smooth, inflated rim showcases a wealth of stunning birdseye, while the rest of the bowl and the shank wear a dark, crisp sandblast. The shank face wears the same smooth finish and chestnut stain as the rim, and it shares the same teardrop shape, though rotated 90 degrees for an elegant touch of asymmetry and dynamism.