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

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#168123

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.