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TIBETAN OPIUM PIPE WITH CORAL INLAY
Origin: Tibet
Date: Late 19th–early 20th century
Materials: Silver, black-lacquered wood or horn, coral cabochons
Dimensions:
Description:
Crafted Tibetan opium pipe featuring ornate silver mounts over a black-lacquered central shaft, likely made from wood or horn. The pipe is decorated with repoussé and chased floral and scroll motifs along the silver sections. Six raised silver bezels, each set with a polished coral cabochon, provide both ornamentation and symbolic significance, as coral is considered a protective and auspicious material in Tibetan culture.
The bowl is positioned at one end, fitted into an intricately worked silver headpiece that extends into a capped section. The opposite end tapers to a silver mouthpiece, with an additional decorative silver sleeve at the junction with the shaft. The combination of luxurious materials and intricate detailing suggests that this pipe belonged to a wealthy or high-ranking individual.
Cultural Context:
While opium smoking spread widely in China during the Qing dynasty, it also reached Tibet, where pipes were often made to reflect local aesthetics and spiritual symbolism. The use of coral and silver links this example to Tibetan jewelry traditions, where such materials are prized for their beauty, rarity, and protective powers. In this way, the pipe served as both a functional smoking implement and a status-laden personal possession.
Origin: Tibet
Date: Late 19th–early 20th century
Materials: Silver, black-lacquered wood or horn, coral cabochons
Dimensions:
Description:
Crafted Tibetan opium pipe featuring ornate silver mounts over a black-lacquered central shaft, likely made from wood or horn. The pipe is decorated with repoussé and chased floral and scroll motifs along the silver sections. Six raised silver bezels, each set with a polished coral cabochon, provide both ornamentation and symbolic significance, as coral is considered a protective and auspicious material in Tibetan culture.
The bowl is positioned at one end, fitted into an intricately worked silver headpiece that extends into a capped section. The opposite end tapers to a silver mouthpiece, with an additional decorative silver sleeve at the junction with the shaft. The combination of luxurious materials and intricate detailing suggests that this pipe belonged to a wealthy or high-ranking individual.
Cultural Context:
While opium smoking spread widely in China during the Qing dynasty, it also reached Tibet, where pipes were often made to reflect local aesthetics and spiritual symbolism. The use of coral and silver links this example to Tibetan jewelry traditions, where such materials are prized for their beauty, rarity, and protective powers. In this way, the pipe served as both a functional smoking implement and a status-laden personal possession.
