Smooth Sphinx with Bamboo (2162) Tobacco Pipe

One of the most talented pipe makers in North America, 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 striking Sphinx demonstrates Jeff's talents with sculptural composition and his tasteful use of accenting materials.

Like the Elephant's Foot, the Sphinx is an old Bo Nordh shape that has since become a staple in artisan pipe making, with many carvers putting their own creative spin on the design. As a shape, the Sphinx is defined by a dynamic bowl that's bifurcated on its horizontal axis by a crisp ridgeline. In this rendition, that ridgeline descends from the rim and forms a pointed, spur-like heel, which lends a touch of angularity to the shape's profile, contrasting the bowl's rounded fore and aft walls. The bowl is paired to a high-reaching shank and a steeply curved saddle stem, the latter of which promotes a comfortable smoking posture and adds a good deal of verticality to the composition. Three knuckles of dark bamboo extend the shank, their complexion matching the hues of the stem. Dressing this piece is a warm, vibrant smooth finish that highlights gorgeous birdseye across the bowl's fore and lively cross grain across the bowl's aft.

--Davin Hylton