Sandblasted Bent Brandy with Silver (1789) Tobacco Pipe

This bent Brandy by Jeff Gracik of J. Alan pipes is I daresay a bit statuesque, with tall, tapered sides to its bowl and a sinuous S-curve profile. The transition is a bit more gradual than many of his designs, and evolves into a very subtle taper to the upturned shank. We see comparatively fewer Brandies from Jeff, and this is a bit larger than his most recent fare. It is clearly built to accentuate the grain, with handsome stacks of growth rings climbing the proud bowl.

Jeff's skill in the blasting cabinet is enviable, and on full display here, made even more stunning by a time-consuming contrast stain. Lighter colors of plum dance with burgundy across the rippling grain, drawing my eye in and not letting go. A wedding ring of silver at the shank end contrasts the dark motif quite nicely, and a sleek saddle stem of hand-cut and funneled vulcanite bends down gracefully to promote a comfortable smoke.