Hexagonal Red Clay Opium Pipe Bowl

This unusual object is an early 20th century opium pipe bowl, sculpted of fine yixing red clay to a squat, six-sided form and fitted with a brass collar. Minimal and refined, the pipe bowl is decorated only by the maker's mark and text prominently stamped onto one side.

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.