Jared Coles: Sandblasted Bent Egg with Orangewood Tobacco Pipe

Jared Coles' history with pipes starts at his childhood, having been enamored with them ever since the first time he saw his grandfather smoking one. Appropriately, then, he came into the fold as a pipe smoker as soon as he turned 18, discovering the artisan world of pipes while he was in college and further engrossing himself in his passion. He formed the J&J Pipes workshop with friend John Klose after experimenting with pipe making himself, and for eight years they worked together before amicably dissolving the partnership to focus on his own work. The breadth of styles that Coles has explored spans the world, and he draws inspiration from all of these schools of design when crafting his pipes, something which can be seen in this bent Egg.

A pert bent Egg, this piece from Coles is a rather rare one, being a shape we've seldom seen from the artisan. Despite the rareness of the Egg within Coles' portfolio, this piece is rather similar to some of his bent Billiards, though with a more pronounced curvature and canting bowl shape. Said bowl is significantly rounded through its low-set waist and offers plenty of comfort in the had, while its walls sleekly taper upward and push forward to create a dynamic profile that draws the eye toward the bowl's contours. A wide transition gives way to a sharply lifting shank that flares out as it reaches toward a domed ring of orangewood which punctuates the junction to the stem. The stem itself is a sleek saddle of jet-black vulcanite whose base is domed and rounded, extending the outline of the shank before its slim bit takes on a gentle downturn. Compact and rather lightweight, this pipe is primed for easy clenching and travel carry, while its ample curvature lends it a comfortable feel in hand. Dressed in a crisp, inky sandblast, the stummel here showcases a rippling pattern of ring grain cascading down the bowl, its undulations striated by streaks of visible flame.