Ryan Alden: Smooth Volcano with Horn (Ace) Tobacco Pipe

Texas-based artisan Ryan Alden is no stranger to classic Anglo-French design, and this is appropriate, given the English provenance of his name, which crossed the Atlantic ocean on the Mayflower in 1620. Much of his portfolio is made up of timeless profiles and traditional silhouettes, though he is no stranger to more contemporary shapes either, feeling equally at home crafting them as well. Evidencing this talent for carving more sculptural, artistically-inclined pieces, this Volcano stands apart as being one of his most overtly modern and evocative pieces and one of the select few pipes we've seen from him finished smooth: earning his coveted "Ace" grade.

Outside of this pipe's stunning finish and uniquely stylized stummel shaping, what strikes me first about the build here is its deeply bent combination of shank and stem. This pairing is fantastically sinuous, with an upward flicking shank that meets a domed fitment of horn at the junction before giving way to a lengthy stretch of brindled, saddle-oriented vulcanite. This multicolored arc of stem offers a dynamic verticality to the composition and a comfortable smoking posture, which is suited well to jaw-hanging, providing a keen sense of balance to the bowl. Said bowl sits atop a broad base which is wrapped by a firm ridgeline that firms up the silhouette a good deal, this ridge starting at the left aft side of the bowl's dipped and inflated rim. From this slight point, the ridge slants rearward through the transitional area and curls through the silhouette of the base, surrounding an ovoid shape which is slightly pointed at the fore. From the crisp edges of the base, the bowl begins an upward taper to its rim, maintaining a squat disposition which is contrasted well by the shank and stem's high-reaching presence. Dressed in a rich, chestnut-stained smooth finish, the stummel here showcases a wealth of beautiful grain, with dense tendrils of flame flickering through the flanks, while the rim and base are awash with birdseye.