GH.ZHANG: Smooth Tomato (J. Alan) (01) Tobacco Pipe

Guo Hui Zhang's passion for pipes began with his work as an importer and purveyor of pipe-making materials. Zhang's understanding of large-scale pipe logistics inspired an exciting idea: the mass production of high-quality, artisan pipes. In 2017, he opened the GH Zhang workshop and partnered with pipe makers around the world to achieve his vision. Each GH Zhang pipe is designed by a famous artisan pipe maker and shaped on a CNC machine before being finished by hand and fitted with stems by the team at GH Zhang. Offering more than 40 shapes in smooth and sandblasted finishes, GH Zhang presents pipe smokers with a rare opportunity to procure artisan-style pipes at an accessible price.

J. Alan pipes are crafted by Jeff Gracik, whose spur-of-the-moment shaping style results in pieces that range from traditional to avant-garde, but are always one of a kind. Therefore, the collaboration between J. Alan and GH Zhang offers a special opportunity for anyone to appreciate Gracik's unique shapes across several distinct renditions. This J. Alan "01" Tomato by GH Zhang possesses a rotund form that is framed by a supple waistline, its circular circumference seemingly bugling at the flanks due to the forward-urging stance of the rim. Out back, the flared walls of the thick, bent shank accentuate the willowy curvature of the saddle stem, and the shapely shank face mirrors the contours of the bowl, imbuing this pipe with a cohesive dynamism. This particular J. Alan "01" is dressed in a smoky smooth finish that highlights gorgeous grain throughout the stummel.