J. Alan: Smooth Bent Dublin with Horn (1993) 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 Dublin nicely demonstrates Jeff's talents with classic shapes and his tasteful use of accenting materials.

A dynamic and captivating take on the classic form, this piece boasts a wide, thick-walled bowl that's posed at the fore of a sweeping shank-and-stem arrangement. The bowl rises from its firm heel to its broad, plateau-crowned rim, and as it grows, it take on a canted posture that immediately draws the eye. The shank and stem provide balance to the composition and keep things looking gestural out back, but the bowl dominates the shape's reserved and supple profile. An auburn smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights captivating flame grain across the bowl's flanks, while an accent of horn adorns the junction and ties the entire shape together with a touch of organic color.