Chinese or Mongolian black lacquered opium pipe with spinach jade mouthpiece and embroidered leather pouch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This 19th-century opium pipe set originates from China or Mongolia and includes a black lacquered pipe paired with an elaborate embroidered leather pouch. The pipe features a spinach-green jade mouthpiece and an iron and bronze bowl intricately incised with scrolling clouds set between key fret borders.
The accompanying leather pouch is decorated with vibrant, multicolored thread embroidery. Its top is adorned with refined silver medallions and supports a long silver chain ending in a Buddhist lion ornament and a functional pipe pick. The set reflects the traditional craftsmanship of the period, combining functional pipe smoking implements with decorative accessories. With a total weight of 511 grams, the pipe measures 26.7 cm in length, while the pouch measures 23.6 cm.
This ensemble represents a historical object used for opium smoking, showcasing a blend of lacquered materials, jade, iron, bronze, and silver craftsmanship. The detailed embroidery on the pouch and the intricate metalwork on the bowl and silver attachments demonstrate the high level of artistry associated with personal smoking equipment of the 19th century.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 511 g
- Pipe length
- 26.7 cm
- Pouch length
- 23.6 cm
Technical characteristics
- Pipe materials
- lacquer, iron, bronze, spinach-green jade
- Pouch materials
- leather, colorful thread, silver
Design
- Pipe bowl motifs
- scrolling clouds, key fret borders
- Pouch attachments
- silver medallions, silver chain, Buddhist lion ornament, pipe pick
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.