Ryan Alden: Sandblasted Paneled Billiard (King of Clubs) Tobacco Pipe

The iconic Foursquare design isn't a shape often produced by artisan carvers, but here Ryan Alden delivers an exquisite example of the timeless form. This rendition hews closely to the classic English approach, featuring four panels around the towering bowl with Alden rounding the corners for a softer in-hand feel. The squared shank and tapering mouthpiece not only reinforce the piece's muscular aesthetic, they also enable it to sit firmly on flat surfaces. However, what really caught my attention here is the crisp sandblast. Rippling waves of vertically oriented grain travel across the flanks, dressed in a deep crimson stain and wonderfully complemented by the cumberland stem. Ryan has then simply accented this piece by chamfering the innermost portion of the rim and staining it a rich ruby hue for a truly subtle, skilled touch.