J. Alan: Smooth Cherrywood with Black Bamboo (2194) 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 Cherrywood demonstrates Jeff's talents with classic shapes and his tasteful use of accenting materials.

The Cherrywood is a decidedly practical shape, with its design catering more to function than form. Here, Gracik has gorgeously fused the functional with the artistic, rendering a Cherrywood design that's gorgeous to look at while being incredibly ergonomic. Up front, a tall, cylindrical bowl stands atop a flat, slanted heel and grows tubular walls that are gently canted forward. The transition starts low on the bowl, its placement emphasizing those aforementioned walls' height and marking the start of a trim shank extended by three knuckles of black bamboo. The color of the bamboo perfectly bridges the stummel's warm stain to the jet-black complexion of the vulcanite saddle stem. A glossy smooth finish completes the ensemble and highlights a gorgeous showing of grain around the bowl, with tight clusters of birdseye dotting the flanks and cross grain rising along the fore and aft.