Partially Sandblasted Toadstool (1577) Tobacco Pipe

The more I look at this asymmetrical Toadstool from J. Alan, the more I like it. Certainly the quality of the craftsmanship commends it, especially upon closer inspection. Sandblasted throughout, it's the smooth bands around edges of the rim and shank end that first attract the eye. The asymmetrical shaping does resemble a toadstool, especially at the rim, but those strips of smooth briar also look a little like a Möbius strip, though there's no half twist or inter-dimensional confusion. The finish as black, against which those bands of walnut-stained briar contrast. The blast itself is wonderful, and the undulating rim and shank end follow the grain for a perfectly natural aesthetic. The piece sits sturdily, too, and is a pleasure to hold and handle.

The cheeking around the transition is soft and natural, while the shank curves gently upward, expanding at the mouthpiece. As a sort of drunken Cherrywood, with forward inclination and a crisp tactile sensation, this is an unusual piece from Jeff, but he can certainly execute anything his imagination can devise.