Featured Two Brass Opium Pipes and Opium Pillows

Another junkshop score from my travels around southeast Asia - now in Singapore.

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The two wooden rectangular things are antique opium pillows (they were commonly made of wood, or porcelain).

The two long brass things are opium pipes. I had some doubts as to their age, but they seemed to fit the bill, so I bought them. At least they were cheap-ish. They are hollow inside and air flows through. The bowls are removable, and screw on and off. Again, these are hollow. They look genuinely aged and while of similar style and decoration, are not a matched pair.

I'm not entirely sure how old they might be, but I'd say that they're not modern repros. I've seen PLENTY of those.

What do you chaps and chapettes think??

 

The pipes never saw opium in my opinion... At least, they have the shape of opium pipes and very decorative, vintage at best. So much water pipes are described as "opium"...
The hole on dampers is too large.

A very well documented article on Collectors Weekly about opium paraphernalia, which led me to begin a collection!):
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/journey-into-the-opium-underworld/

 

So what differentiates an authentic antique pipe from a modern reproduction?

 

Authentic pipes are intended to smoke, even the most decorated ones must have certain specificities to allow the smoker getting the best from his drug.
Read thoroughly the article, tips are there

 

Where did the picture go?

 

I just find another site, of drug consumers!
It explains the clues to spot a look alike:
https://drugs-forum.com/threads/sep...inguish-a-real-opium-pipe-from-a-fake.322465/

 

I can't see it either.

 

Shangas, if I may be so bold to abuse your Asian thread for some lobbying for an Asian antiques forum:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/asian-antiques-forum-please.22293/#post-300264
Everyone please support us.

 

@Shangas , would it be possible for you to post your photo(s) again? Something seems to have gone awry with it/them in your original post.

(Not that I know anything about the items you're describing, but you take such wonderful photos ... plus it's great to learn about different objects)

 

We've had opium pipe posts before...

"So much water pipes are described as "opium"..."

Because tobacco was commonly used along with opium, the tobacco pipes get mixed up when folks think they were the opium pipes....

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/help-identify-this-please.14210/#post-200166

 

Here's the picture!!

 

Beautiful, Shangas. Hope you enjoyed your meal.

 

The opium and crack was delicious. The pot was a bit undercooked.

 

So I guess you are baked now. Just kidding.