J. Alan: Sandblasted Zuricher (2148) Tobacco Pipe

One of the most talented pipe makers in North America, 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, with this Zuricher being an example of the latter. As a shape, this Zuricher features a tall, forward-canted bowl that stands atop a flat, angled heel and grows thick, insulating walls that flare to a broad, domed rim. Said bowl is framed by eight crisp facets, which lend a structural rigidity to the shape's profile, alongside the paneled shank that reaches upward from the bowl's transition. The shank balances the bowl and joins a demurely curved tapered stem, the latter of which promotes a comfortable smoking posture. Additionally, this confident Sitter is dressed in a jet-black sandblast that highlights striking grain across the bowl's flanks.