More scientifically known as sepiolite, meerschaum is a clay-like mineral found primarily in Turkey, where meerschaum carving has flourished through the history of pipe making. Here is a classic: a bent dragon claw holding an egg, this egg looking ready to hatch, which is a theme that's been rendered for hundreds of years in a variety of sizes and complexities. Every meerschaum collection should have at least one, and this particular example from AKB may be the one you've been missing.