Ryan Alden: Sandblasted Billiard with Boxwood (Jack of Diamonds) Tobacco Pipe

Texas-based craftsman Ryan Alden, known for his innovative use of alternative pipe-making materials, is highly regarded for putting modern twists on classic shapes. With a background in sculpting, leather working, and wood turning, Alden draws from his past experience to produce a wide variety of pipes, often favoring the elegant simplicity of Anglo-French classics. This Billiard showcases Ryan Alden's gorgeous design style and is a delightful interpretation of the classic English shape. The shaping of this Billiard is simple, embracing the classic profile that has been beloved for generations. This shaping can be seen in this piece's proportions, where the shank and height of the bowl remain even and balanced in profile. The design aspect that stands out the most in this piece is the boxwood accent that is inlaid in the stem. The boxwood frames the shoulder of the stem, reaching into the aft of the stem's sleek taper. This feature immediately draws the eye to the junction, as its warm hue starkly contrasts with the stummel's dark sandblast and the black vulcanite stem.