Early Figurative Meerschaum Pipe with Face, Legs and Deep Patina folding Stanley ruler The piece is taped around

The piece is taped around the edges to the mat on the back side which should be fairly easy to carefully peel or cut away

14" tall x x 7 1/8" x 6 3/4"

and both a fun and useful one

I take it as a portrait of a woman

Early Figurative Meerschaum Pipe with Face, Legs and Deep Patina folding Stanley ruler The piece is taped aroundA wonderfully weird antique figural meerschaum pipe bowl, with face of a woman peeking out like masthead at the front, and kicked up legs in what looks rather like a tutu poking out the back. Clearly this was much smoked, which turns meerschaum (made from the mineral sepiolite) from white to a rich caramel. Further, the wear to the front of the bowl makes it look as if our woman is wearing a Covid era mask! I believe this dates to the 1st half of the