- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by opiumgoddess.
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Strange, it seems my original post failed to edit and totally disappeared! Perhaps I tried to upload too many pictures.
In any case, I was so thrilled to find this site after coming across an interesting object at the thrift shop yesterday. I excitedly picked this pipe up thinking it might be ivory, but on closer examination suspect it to be bone due to the pores and texture. I knew nothing at all about opium pipes prior to finding this site last evening, and started out thinking the pipe may be a tobacco pipe. It’s shorter than other pipes described on this site, and the bowl is rather small (though it does unscrew). I also think it’s quite a bit cruder than other example opium pipes featured here, so I began to think it may be a souvenir/replica despite the yellowing along the stem and bowl. In reading other posts on the forums, it seems to share many features with replica pipes. Nevertheless, I find the scrimshaw-like work to be lovely, and it has a wonderful heavy, smooth feel in the hand. I’d love to get the thoughts or insights from anyone who has more experience looking at these things. Thanks for the help!
Hello, Linds. What you have is most likely meant to be used as a decorative item, not for smoking tobacco (or opium). These scrimshaw pipes are generally made of bone, so you’re correct in your assessment of the material. I love thrifting too. It’s like an adventure. You never know what you’ll find. 😁
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