J. Alan: Smooth Acorn (2193) Tobacco Pipe

Jeff Gracik, the artisan behind J. Alan pipes, draws inspiration from the Danish pipe-making tradition and renders those influences in a uniquely American manner, creating pieces that balance supple curves with a pronounced musculature. Such is the case with this Acorn, a sweeping composition with a crescent-shaped outline and a full-bodied build. Up front, a tall, stocky bowl stands atop a lifted heel and grows thick walls that balloon into a wide, plateau-flecked rim. Additionally, the bowl possesses a subtle forward cant and a horizontally compressed build, with the chamber's semi-ovoid flanks lending the totality of the frame an Opera-like appearance. A wide transition joins the bowl to an upturned shank that flares swiftly to a broad face of plateau. From there, a steeply curved saddle stem completes the ensemble, its pronounced arc continuing the implied line of the stummel and promoting a comfortable smoking posture. A rich, contrast-stained smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights the briar's fine strands of flame grain.