19th Century Meerschaum with a scene of Christ being removed from the cross in an oval frame. The scene is behind glass and framed in a black wooden frame. The back is covered in blue paper, and the original hanger is still in place. It dates from the early 19th Century. Meerschaum is known and is also used to make pipes and is found in areas such as Crimea, Bosnia, Greece, Spain, Tanzania, and Turkey. It is a soft type of stone. A special property of meerschaum is its light weight. It floats in water for a while before slowly sinking. When completely soaked in water, it cuts like soap. When dry, the processing is comparable to softer woods. Finally, fire hardens it somewhat, and that is precisely what makes it suitable for pipes, giving the object sufficient strength. This particular piece is large and measures 7.7" x 9.5" x 1.5". It is in FABULOUS condition with original glass.
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