Soapstone Monkey's Paw (?) with Two Links

Hello Everyone - I picked this up in a box lot of soapstone and I'm lost on where to start finding out what it is. It measures about 8 1/4" long. The rings seem to be carved from the one slab as there are no breaks. I would appreciate any help in figurine out what this is and where it's from. Is it a good luck charm? Most of the other items in this lot were Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani. Thank you very much.
Don

 

It's an Italian figa and yes. It's good luck in Italy and a very rude gesture elsewhere.

 

I agree - an Italian figa.....................and please don't ask WHY an old WASP such as I is so familiar with the charm, or why he owns 5 or six of these.................

 

Si Jagur, the fertility canon of Jakarta, Indonesia:

It was captured by the Dutch VOC after defeating the Portuguese in Malacca in 1641. It may also be a good luck symbol in Portugal, but it didn't help in this case. Indonesians now visit it for fertility.

 

I could make up about a hundred puns regarding this cannon and fertility...............but as I mentioned elsewhere, I find my membership here more important to me than the opportunity to be vulgar....................

 

Just testing....

 

I wasn't aware the two were mutually exclusive but I'll take your word for it!

Thanks to everyone for your help. I have never heard of a figa before but I have the feeling it's going to be interesting when I research it more in-depth! Much appreciated!
Don

 

We can only imagine.

 

I bought one in the 70's...they were all the rage...

 

Yes, they were, just like those animal tooth pendants. In the 70s I wore a silver mounted mountain lion tooth pendant from Peru. I always thought it was a fake tooth until a vet friend of mine said it was real.

 

I still have my black bear claw, silver mounted, bought in North Bay Ontario.
I wore that for a long time....but the claw aged poorly....
can I protect or preserve it with something?

 

Clear nail polish, if you don't mind the extra shine.
Or:
http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/BeginnersArticles/05/i/05FB56A7D9.html

 

Here is another clear nail polish user:
http://goneoutdoors.com/preserve-bear-claws-6794428.html

 

methinks i SHOULD have done that in 78.......

 

Is it too far gone?

 

well it's lost it's luster and has thinned out....but i'll try the nail polish..