J. Alan: Natural Sandblasted Bent Dublin with Bamboo (1958) Tobacco Pipe

With a beautifully sinuous gesture, stunning sandblast, and tasteful use of bamboo, it's difficult to narrow down my favorite aspects of this bent Dublin from Jeff Gracik of J. Alan. The lines of the stem, shank, and heel, combined with the use of bamboo, lend the piece a highly organic nature. The very slightly rounded heel poises the bowl and adds an extra curvature to the S-curve, making for an even more fluid and willowy silhouette. Meanwhile, the bowl's sandblast couldn't be more concise or consistent, testifying both to this briar block's quality and Jeff's aptitude for sandblasting, with the light, natural finish patinating beautifully over time. Especially impressive to me, though, is this pipe's lightweight disposition. It's not a particularly small piece, yet its weight is deceptively light and the balance spectacular — helped by the slender bamboo, reinforced by a stainless steel tenon, and Jeff's expert execution of the profile's curves.