Provincial Opium Pipe with Agate Bowl

This long bamboo pipe dates to the late 19th century and was originally used for smoking opium. 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.

This example has a rustic bamboo stem with end pieces of white brass and a saddle of etched brass and copper. A round pipe bowl of carved brown agate rests in the copper collar, wonderfully complementing the light bamboo stem with a range of brown earth tones.

Additional Dimensions:
Pipe Bowl: 2"Dia x 2"H