J. Alan: Smooth Horn (2107) Tobacco Pipe

J. Alan pipes are handmade in San Diego, California by Jeff Gracik, the artisan imbuing his work with a distinctly Danish aesthetic while hewing close to the style of the American masters, expertly balancing plump curves with robust musculature. Gracik is equally talented in rendering pipes possessed of a staggering firmness, such as this Horn, one similar to Sixten Ivarsson's iconic Oliphant shape. The most arresting aspect of this pipe's construction is the pair of panels that frame the stummel, outlining the silhouette of this pipe quite nicely and drawing the eye naturally along the briar's curves as it curls forward and flares out to the rim. Like other successful renditions of the Horn shape, this pipe showcases a consistent expansion from the shank face to the rim, the stummel gradually growing as the shape extends from aft to fore and creating an even, organic-looking composition that stands out as an especially artistic, sculptural piece thanks to its symmetry and precision. A black vulcanite saddle stem caps the shank, separating this pipe from the aforementioned Oliphant shape, the stem marking the start of both the briar's twin panels and the ovoid shaping that possesses the outline from the smoker's perspective. This breadth is nearly the same throughout the piece, though there's a distinct bit of flare near the fore, cementing the bowl as the center of the visual weight while maintaining a measured, even flow that keeps the eye wandering over all the striking aspects of this pipe's construction. Though the transition is nebulous, as it often is in Horns, the bowl stands out just enough, especially as the panels on its flanks reach their endpoint at the rim. Here, their flaring lines are bridged at the top by a subdued arc, while ridges at the fore and aft sides complete an encircling pattern that highlights the rim's plump, soft, dome. This dome works with the plunging curve through the underside and the more shallow curve across the top, where the briar's more supple shaping creates a good deal of stylistic and textural contrast while maintaining a cohesive look compositionally. Dressed in a rich, smooth finish and deep, chestnut-hued stain, this pipe showcases a wealth of stunning grain, with dense flame flowing through the flanks of the shank and wrapping over the rim as cross grain, while the entire underside is covered in an ocean of birdseye.