AKB Meerschaum: Carved Bearded Man Tobacco Pipe

Before briar was the most popular material to fashion into pipes, many pipes were made from meerschaum, with the oldest meerschaum pipes dating back to the early 18th century. German for "Sea Foam," meerschaum is a clay-like substance that is pliable when wet and exceedingly sturdy when dry, making it possible to shape meerschaum into a wide array of imaginative shapes. Furthermore, meerschaum is immune to "ghosting," which is when traces of a tobacco mixture's flavor is left over from a previous smoke. Therefore, meerschaum pipes are excellent for sampling a variety of blends. Additionally, when meerschaum pipes are originally carved they typically possess a pale-white hue, which slowly patinates into rich browns and blacks after extensive smoking. Although briar pipes are now far more abundant than meerschaums, marques like AKB still utilize the unique material. Short for Ali Karim Bey, AKB is based in Turkey, the Mecca of meerschaum pipe making. The workshop is home to many of Turkey's finest meerschaum carvers, such as Tekin, Mcinar, Muhsin, and Ali. These artisans craft everything from incredibly detailed figurals to traditional pipe shapes, with each member offering their own personal touch. This Figural by AKB Meerschaum is an excellent example of the workshop's artistry, showcasing a handsome bearded man.