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

Based in Rowlett, Texas, Ryan Alden is no stranger to shape-chart standard designs, with much of his portfolio dedicated to traditional interpretations of classic profiles. This straight Brandy fits in well with that leaning, showcasing an arrow straight stretch of shank and stem, all balancing a plump, pert bowl. Additionally, this pipe reveals Alden's firm grasp on proportion, as its length pushes past six and a half inches, easily one of his largest pipes, though it has been crafted in such a way that the fore and aft of the pipe are in near perfect harmony with each other. What's more, we have never seen a straight Brandy from Ryan before, and only a single bent example, making this pipe a true rarity among his work.

The bowl here rises to over two inches in height, supported by its wide, slightly lifted heel and flat base which feed into a low-set waistline that offers the fingers an excellent surface to wrap around, with the latter of these giving the pipe the ability to sit stably. The iconic gradual taper of the bowl offers a bit of levity from its otherwise muscular construction, with the fore of the bowl receiving a touch more rearward travel in comparison to the aft's forward lean. The transition is crisp and clean and leads into the lengthy shank which meets a relatively trim saddle stem, the entire combination reminiscent of the Lovat shape. A deep, dark sandblast dresses the stummel here, contrasted handsomely by the stem's brindled green and black coloration, with the rim partially finished smooth, itself stained a ruby hue.