J. Alan: Sandblasted Bent Bulldog (2218) 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, with Gracik able to craft beautiful shape-chart standards as well as more complex, Freehand-inspired designs. This bent Bulldog is one of his more conservative offerings, but it possesses a pronounced, serpentine-like fluidity that is unique for the shape and a testament to the artisan's craftsmanship. Said fluidity comes in the form of the shank and stem, an artfully posed duo that snakes upward and tapers softly into a trim bit. The aforementioned arrangement supports a muscular bowl at the pipe's fore, with this bowl standing atop a gently lifted heel and flaring to a broad, beadline-wrapped waist before tapering inward to a semi-domed rim. The stummel wears a dark sandblast that lends the overall form a dark, moody palette and highlights an impressive showing of grain.