Stunning Antique Meerschaum Hand Holding Pipe Bowl london also visible at the center

also visible at the center of the underside of the lid and on the bottom of the basket

but overall terrific condition

When I first spotted it

where one wants to acquire all of the cards of any given set

teaching us how to draw faces

Stunning Antique Meerschaum Hand Holding Pipe Bowl london also visible at the centerI find this late 19th century pipe bowl such a beautiful thing, all the better for being freed from the pipe stem, such that it can be displayed with this beautiful hand draping over top of the bowl. It was quite finely carved of the mineral sepiolite, also known as Meerschaum, which was prized as the perfect material for making pipes as it provided a cool, dry, flavorful smoke. Meerschaum is white to begin with, and from what I understand its color