Lan Zhenjun Pipes

Lan Zhenjun is a rising star in the world of pipe making. A native of the harbor town of Tianjin, China, Lan has as background in graphic design, which no doubt gives him some advantages in understanding what makes for pleasing aesthetics. That career, however, didn't hold a candle to the idea of making beautiful pipes, apparently, since Lan proceeded pretty directly from being first introduced to pipes, to learning how to make pipes, to then resigning from his previous job to take his pipe-making full time. Along the way he's worked with fellow Chinese artisans Ping Zhan, Sam Cui, and Li Zhesong, whose talents and skills have already impressed.

When it comes to his pipes, Lan's biggest influences are the greats of the Danish style, especially Bo Nordh and Jorn Micke. His approach to shaping is smooth, balancing fluid, continuous curves with robust proportions and a firm muscularity, while still leaving enough room for his own distinctive, stylistic flourishes here and there. He finishes his pipes in either a smooth polish or a crisp sandblast and holds extremely high standards in his drilling, engineering, and overall quality of work.