AKB Meerschaum: Carved Dragon Claw Holding Lion Head (with Case) Tobacco Pipe

Coming in at more than eight inches long and boasting a bowl nearly three inches tall, this striking figural meerschaum from Turkish workshop AKB depicts the classic "dragon claw holding a _" motif, though with an interesting, seldom seen twist. The dragon, in this case, is holding a full lion's head. The talons wrap around the flanks and underside of the head, grasping it tightly and showing it off as if it were a trophy, the dragon heralding its victory over the king of the Serengeti. The mane of the conquered feline is full and flowing, surrounding a face whose mouth is open in a threat display, eyes wide with defiance and belying its unfortunate position. All of the detail here is wonderfully rendered by the hands of AKB's artisans, with the claws of the dragon showcasing keeled scales running down their center, while the surrounding scales are all individually carved in stunning relief. The pale white stummel is here paired to a comparatively trim stem of demurely curved amber acrylic that's been fitted with stylish expansion rings. This stem lends the pipe a handsome contrast that will come to better match the meerschaum as it patinates over time and smoking sessions.