Ryan Alden: Sandblasted Lovat (King of Clubs) Tobacco Pipe

Smokingpipes again showcases the work of U.S.-based carvers, featuring 16 pipes in our 7th annual American Pipe Making Exposition and revisiting the 2017 theme of accent stems. It was the late Danish legend Sixten Ivarsson who actualized the notion that mouthpieces are far more than intrinsic to a pipe's overall composition. American carvers have heartily embraced that idea and often put as much time and effort into making the stem by utilizing different materials, colors and shaping, as they do with the stummel.

This bold Lovat from Ryan Alden reflects his appreciation for classic shapes. The robust Billiard bowl displays a gradual taper toward the softly beveled, smooth rim, the shaping gently rounded, indicating Danish design cues. It's set to the form's round shank with the split saddle stem consisting of brindled vulcanite with olive and black colors that seem to embrace the warm butterscotch-hued vulcanite. The mouthpiece is complemented by one of the artisan's earthy sandblasts, highlighting the handsome grain beneath, with the aforementioned smooth rim's lighter stain mirroring that the stem. Additionally, this pipe is able to sit pertly upright on a flat surface.