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22nd May 2012, 02:00 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 227
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A pipe with a surprise
Here is my latest aquisition - it's an ornate opium pipe presumably from India or Thailand (or elsewhere in Asia - can anyone suggest a proper origin)? Straight, 14" long wooden shaft encased in low grade silver or tin with a bulbous finale shaped to resemble a poppy seed pod. Nicely shaped peacock with a small "dish" on its back for the burning of whatever substance its owner fancied. And, a nice feature which attracted me to this item is a hidden blade inside the pipe. It is single edged and of a relatively poor quality but appears to be sufficient enough for sticking between someone's ribs in a dimly lit and smokey opium den or in a back alley somewhere
Despite a nice patina, I would imagine that the pipe is not terribly old. My guess is early to mid 20th century but I could be wrong. |
22nd May 2012, 02:09 PM | #2 |
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I think Stu has shown one of these before and referenced a book with one in it too.
Gav |
22nd May 2012, 02:13 PM | #3 |
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Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
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For the reference of what a poppy seed pod looks like:
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22nd May 2012, 02:19 PM | #4 |
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22nd May 2012, 02:24 PM | #5 |
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Very interesting! Thanks for a link
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22nd May 2012, 03:33 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Gabriel Foothills, Southern California
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Stan,
Here is one that I picked up a few years back. It is similar to yours, minus the peacock. I was told by an Afghan rug dealer that the blade was used for cleaning out the tiny bowl......although I'm sure that it would work in a pinch. Nothing worse than a bunch of knife fighting dope fiends. |
22nd May 2012, 07:47 PM | #7 |
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Location: USA
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Thai, contemporary/second half of 20th century, most likely (based on the metal work which is probably not silver and, if it is, will be very low quality).
Here is a riding crop in my collection which is no more than 10-20 years old. |
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