J. Alan: Sandblasted Acorn (2174) Tobacco Pipe

Among the most respected artisans in the world, Jeff Gracik has developed a distinctive aesthetic that, while rooted in the classics, is recognizable as his own to discerning eyes. His consistency and paramount craftsmanship contribute to this recognition: No matter the shape, each J. Alan pipe features an exacting, hand-cut stem and identical lip button — optimized for smoking comfort and ease while also revealing the signature touches of its maker. Even in his shaping style, though, Gracik crafts designs that honor traditional Danish minimalism and elegance while also revealing their own unique character that can only be attributed to J. Alan.

A large and robust piece, this Acorn combines the organic charm and soft lines championed by Danish artisan pipe making with the muscular proportions often associated with pipes fashioned by American carvers. The profile is defined by a consistent and graceful undercurve that creates a parabolic arch through the shank, heel, and bowl's fore. The stout bowl then rises with rounded, tapering walls to a rim that's pinpricked with plateau before transitioning into a smooth chamber toward the tobacco chamber. Most notable, however, is Gracik's deft inclusion of a ridgeline along the left flank: Traveling the length of the shank it curl dramatically at the transition to rise up the bowl's aft side instead of traveling through to the fore. It's a subtle and artistic cue that resembles ridgelines seen on the Blowfish shape, but in a more reserved and restrained manner. Lastly, it's all dressed in a traditional sandblast, with the shank face left to plateau to match the rim and the base of the hand-cut stem angled to mirror the shank face's orientation for a complete and harmonic composition.