Ryan Alden: Sandblasted Lumberman with Boxwood (King of Clubs) Tobacco Pipe

Even though all of the carvers featured in this year's American Pipe Making Exposition adhered to the theme of "Influence," they didn't all approach it in the same way. Some paid homage to specific artisans who have influenced their personal style; some drew inspiration from pipe smoking personalities and creative mediums separate from pipe making. Ryan Alden paid homage to the overarching design traditions that have both influenced American pipe making in general as well as his own personal design aesthetic.

Ryan has long appreciated classic English and French designs, and his portfolio features a rich array of traditional pipe chart standards, with this Lumberman adding to that convention. The proportions, however, hint at Italian neoclassic pipe design, with the bowl dominating the visual profile in comparison to the more slender shank-and-stem combination. Lastly, Alden has finished the pipe in a reserved sandblast, contrasted by a smooth-polished rim and tasteful boxwood accent along the shank-end. Such a palette and finishing style, then, are evocative of Danish conventions, rounding out this composition's artistic influences. It does well to represent and honor Ryan's stylistic influences while still retaining the personality we've come to expect and appreciate from his work.