Partially Sandblasted Mushroom with Boxwood (2115) Tobacco Pipe

One of the most talented pipe makers in North America, and the world for that matter, Jeff Gracik of J. Alan pipes fashions expertly engineered compositions that are highly sought after and admired for their shaping, grain, and excellent smoking properties. The American artisan's stylistic range is impressively diverse, as Gracik is able to craft beautiful shape-chart standards as well as more complex, organically inspired designs. This elegant Mushroom demonstrates Jeff's skillful craftsmanship and his tasteful use of accenting materials.

This Mushroom features a stocky bowl that flares from its lifted heel to its broad, domed rim. As it flares, the bowl takes on the appearance of its namesake, as well as a subtle forward-cant that lends the entire shape a dynamic appearance in profile. A tight-knit transition marks the start of an ovoid shank that sweeps upward before giving way to a band of vibrant boxwood, which, itself gives way to a demurely curved saddle stem. The boxwood accent's warm coloration lends a touch of vibrancy to the pipe's otherwise reserved palette, its gradual flare additionally drawing attention to the stem's elegant downturn. Dressing this piece is a crisp, inky sandblast that unveils rippling grain throughout the stummel, save for the inner rim and a grooved channel along the bowl's fore wall, both of which are left smooth for contrast.