Long Bamboo Opium Pipe with Red Clay 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 is formed of a large segment of bamboo and finished with end pieces of turned bone, all stained to a darker brown color. The brass saddle is formed to an elegant shape with botanical flourishes and is topped by a simple node stem. A beautiful ceramic pipe bowl sits within the metal collar, shaped of red clay to a round, discus form and decorated with an abstract phoenix in contrasting white clay inlay.

Additional Dimensions:
Pipe Bowl: 3.25"Dia x 1.5"H