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

Out of all of the traditionally inclined, Anglo-French inspired pipes I have described from Texas-based artisan Ryan Alden, this is by far the most different pipe of his I have ever seen. Not only is this a very Danish Tomato interpretation, with an extremely squat bowl, prominent lifted heel, and strong cheeking around the transition, it is a pipe of very impressive proportions, coming in at over six and a half inches long and weighing upwards of 80 grams. It's clear even at a casual glance why this piece weighs so much, as the bowl dominates the profile, especially in terms of girth, where we find its sides have been inflated to the point that it is over two inches wide, holding a respectable chamber that is sure to offer comfortable smoking sessions within its thick walls.

When it comes to the shape, I can't help but see a companion piece to a Tomato we previously received from Alden, with its more petite, gracile brother a fusion of its namesake and the Prince, and this a portmanteau of Tomato and Author. The shank itself is relatively thick and possessed of a gentle upward curve, meeting an equally stout length of tapered stem that makes an incredibly subtle downturn at the bit for an elegant smoking posture. With all of this considered, it's plain to see that this Tomato is a comfort pipe through and through, lending itself to being cradled in the hand during relaxing smoking sessions. A deep auburn sandblast dresses the briar here, lending this pipe a reserved, classic palette that is sure to make it a hit wherever it is taken, as well as reveling a handsome rippling array of growth rings that radiate from the heel to the rim.