Opium Pipe With Wenge‑Wood Shaft,Inlaid Copper Ornaments And Agate,Qing Dynasty 19th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions:Total Length 54 cm (21.26 in),Overall Height 10 cm (3.94 in),Weight 525g,19th CenturyCondition & Provenance:The pipe remains fully intact.The wenge shaft shows no cracks or breaks and carries smooth aged patina.Mid‑section engraved copper fittings are complete with crisp scrolling grass and fu‑shou character patterns.The inset agate bead stays firmly in place.The melon‑shaped bowl retains partial painted floral decoration.Both end mouth‑pieces are well‑preserved with minor wear from historical usage,no major losses.Provenance:Private collection,Miami,Florida,United States.Acquired from antique dealer in Kuala Lumpur in 1994,kept in family holdings and recently released to overseas antique market.Description:This finely crafted wenge‑wood opium pipe represents a typical late‑Qing artifact serving both practical use and decorative purpose.The solid dark wenge shaft is fitted with engraved copper overlay at central segment.Mixed‑metal technique creates scrolling motifs and auspicious fu‑shou characters,accented by one inset red agate bead for striking color contrast.The bowl adopts melon‑ribbed form decorated with painted scrolling flowers.Both ends are finished with mouth‑pieces secured by copper ferrules with meticulous workmanship.This piece integrates multiple crafts including hardwood carving,copper engraving,painting and agate inlay.Motifs deliver blessing for fortune and longevity.High‑quality pipes of this kind belonged to upper‑class households in late Qing.Perfectly preserved examples are fairly scarce today.It offers valuable physical reference for late‑Qing folk custom study and draws great interest from overseas decorative‑art collectors.

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