That Meerschaum was, at one point in time, used for snow flakes in snow globes? Well it was! It appears that snow globes, which started over 100 years ago in Paris, have used porcelain, bone, sand, non-soluble soap or metal flakes as well as Meerschaum before they settled on the inevitable plastic chips they use today.
Doesn't have a lot to do with pipes but I'm sucker for anything new I learn about Meerschaum.
These little tidbits courtesy of icWales.