East Asia, China, late Qing Dynasty, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine cast-brass opium or tobacco water-pipe with removable parts including a tweezer and receptacle. The pipe has a canister shaped reservoir incised with geometric shapes and bamboo fronds, and upon the top are openings to hold the tweezers and a hinged lid that opens for storing opium. The lid is engraved with Chinese characters and the bottom of the reservoir has a sun shaped stamp and a "4." The lengthy stem and mouthpiece would draw the smoke over the water in the pipe's reservoir to cool it before reaching the smoker's mouth. Size: 3" L x 1.25" W x 11" H (7.6 cm x 3.2 cm x 27.9 cm)
Provenance: private Southern California collection, California, USA, acquired through descent 2006; ex-private California collection, USA, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#168123
Condition
Surface abrasions consistent with age and use. Chinese characters on lid are soft and rubbed. Motifs on canister are soft and mostly indiscernible. Tobacco or mineral deposits within receptacle and storage areas. Dark toning and patina.