Vietnamese Complete Opium Pipe with Chased Silver Mounts

Opium usage was associated among wealthier users with elegant accouterments, of which this pipe is an example. The product of local Chinese artisans working in southern Vietnam, it comprises a silver body, a terracotta pipe head, and a horn finial tipped with a carved bone mouthpiece.

The silver stem is decorated with a phoenix and a dragon whose long, thin body is chased around the stem. The silver pipe head support is similarly chased with a dragon and a phoenix. The underside is engraved with a long-life symbol.

The pipe has in copper overlaid on the silver the Chinese characters for ‘big’ and ‘happiness’ – an apt inscription for an opium pipe, and not atypical. Opium equipment often was decorated in Chinese script with versus and poems dedicated to bliss or pleasure.

The terracotta pipe head or bowl is impressed with Chinese ‘cash’ or coin symbols. The pipe head has the classic ‘door-knob’ form, with a tiny aperture to the top over which the opium ball was heated.

The ensemble is in fine condition and with appropriate patina.