Ryan Alden: Sandblasted Bent Bulldog (Queen of Hearts) Tobacco Pipe

Ryan Alden's affinity for classic shapes is well proven by his portfolio. From straight Billiards to Lovats, and even the old-school Foursquare, the American carver consistently returns to traditional designs, adding diversity alongside his more flowing, freehand forms. In this piece, Ryan offers his own take on the bent Bulldog. While the form maintains all of the shape's conventional details — a diamond shank, tapered bowl, and twin beadlines — Alden has exaggerated each aspect. The proportions between bowl and shank are quite drastic, with the shank considerably more slender in comparison, and the beadlines are deeper than usual, a necessary feature in order to distinguish them from the extra-grooved sandblast. With thick insulating walls and a deep chamber, this is certainly a bold, eye-catching piece and one that fits quite nicely in hand, appealing to lovers of English shapes, yet with just enough of a twist to make this one thoroughly unique.