Stamped Red Clay Opium Pipe Bowl

This unusual object is a 19th century opium pipe bowl, sculpted of dark clay to an eight-sided form with a tapered mouthpiece and fitted with a brass collar. Minimal and refined, the pipe bowl is decorated with large characters stamped into each side, originally filled with slip clay inlay of a contrasting light color. The pipe bowl and collar are beautifully aged from years of use, softened by a rich patina and marked with oxidation.

Unlike a tobacco pipe, the opium pipe was designed especially to allow resinous opium to be vaporized, rather than burned. Consequently, opium pipes have a distinctive form, featuring a long pipe-stem with a mouthpiece at one end and a pipe bowl affixed by a metal saddle two-thirds down the pipe. The opposite end of the stem would remain sealed, ensuring all airflow passed through pipe-bowl. Small chip to top edge.