Ryan Alden is a pipemaker from rural Texas, with deep American roots going back centuries. Ryan makes what can only be described as an honest pipe - high quality, straightforward with no fuss, made to the highest standard. His pipes tend to skew more classical than avant-garde, with a unique, American spin on mostly English shape chart classics and the occasional Danish-inspired flair. Ryan's proficiency with sandblasts shows in every pipe he makes, probably because his output displays his proclivity for deep sandblast finishes as opposed to smooth ones (though he'll make a great smooth pipe as well). His pipes are made of the highest quality briar and German ebonite, and often works deep into the night to make sure every detail on his pipes is just right. His legion of fans only serve to reinforce the fact that a Alden pipe will smoke just as well - or even better - than any other pipe out there.
Alden Pipes Sandblasted Bent Cutty.
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This is one of Ryan's signature shapes - a bent cutty which, in this case, is finished with a domed saddle stem made of limited edition blue/briar swirl ebonite. Ryan's especially proud of this shape, as was the first entirely original shape that he created as a pipemaker. It's also proven popular with collectors, as it is always one of the shapes that gets snapped up immediately at shows. In this case, the pipe is finished with a cross-cut natural sandblast with a smooth top, and it's a stunner that should only look better as it gains a patina with age. King of Clubs grade.
Overall Length: 4 15/16" Overall Height: 2 3/8" Outer Bowl Width: 1 3/8" Chamber Diameter: 3/4" Chamber Depth: 1 3/4" Weight: 1.58 oz/45 g Price: $425 SOLD |
Alden Pipes Sandblasted Tipsy Poker.
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Though Ryan loves his classic shapes, every once in a while he'll put a distinctly American spin on what would otherwise be a classic shape. In this case, he's given the front of this poker a slight lean in the front, so that the pipe looks as if it's on the verge of falling over. But worry not, as this pipe is a solid sitter on its smooth base. It's finished in cross-cut, natural blast that shows some nice contrast on the front and back of the bowl, and the stem is in a deliciously bright red-orange ebonite. A simple straight poker would just be too boring, wouldn't it? Queen of Hearts grade.
Overall Length: 5 7/16" Overall Height: 2 1/4" Outer Bowl Width: 1 3/8" Chamber Diameter: 3/4" Chamber Depth: 1 1/2" Weight: 1.62 oz/46 g Price: $375 |
Alden Pipes Sandblasted Large Contrast Lovat.
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A classic English shape that would be at home in a Dunhill catalogue, this lovat is truly one for a person who needs or prefers a larger pipe to sit down for a smoke. It's perfectly classic from the detailed, yet craggy, contrasted crimson sandblast down to the perfectly proportioned, hand-cut ebonite saddle stem. It's also a steady sitter, as Ryan has cut a smooth portion on the bottom that completes the homage to probably the most well-known pipe marque in history. King of Clubs grade.
Overall Length: 6" Overall Height: 2 1/4" Outer Bowl Width: 1 1/2" Chamber Diameter: 7/8" Chamber Depth: 2" Weight: 1.78 oz/50 g Price: $425 |
