This series includes four different examples of one very popular style of pipe bowl, a flattened round shape with ridges around the outer rim. It’s interesting to look at the different techniques used to execute the same concept… all four examples are visibly distinct.
Round, tapered-profile grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with various markings
Round, tapered-profile grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with various markings
Round, tapered-profile grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with various markings
Round, tapered-profile grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with various markings
Round, tapered-profile grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with various markings
Round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with raised eye and several markings
Round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with raised eye and several markings
Round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with raised eye and several markings
Round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with raised eye and several markings
Comparison of four round ridged pipe bowls
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and one marking, stamped twice
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and one marking, stamped twice
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and one marking, stamped twice
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and one marking, stamped twice
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and two markings
Large round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and several markings
Large round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and several markings
Large round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and several markings
Large round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and several markings
Large round grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ridged rim and several markings
Large round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with copper/brass eye and two sets of markings
Large round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with copper/brass eye and two sets of markings
Large round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with copper/brass eye and two sets of markings
Large round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with copper/brass eye and two sets of markings
Large round grey/brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with copper/brass eye and two sets of markings
Shaped Grey/Brown Stoneware Pipe Bowls
This set of bowls includes the largest opium pipe bowl I’ve ever seen, the octagonal one with fine linework around the outer top surface. It would take some careful effort to fit this heavyweight to a pipe, but it seems to have been well-used, so someone clearly made it work.
Dark grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ruffled edge and several marks, collar missing with damage to base
Dark grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ruffled edge and several marks, collar missing with damage to base
Dark grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ruffled edge and several marks, collar missing with damage to base
Dark grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with ruffled edge and several marks, collar missing with damage to base
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl, with decoration of birds and plants, with two markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl, with decoration of birds and plants, with two markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl, with decoration of birds and plants, with two markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl, with decoration of birds and plants, with two markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl, with decoration of birds and plants, with two markings
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with markings on four sides
Exceptionally large octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with decorated collar and one maker's mark
Exceptionally large octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with decorated collar and one maker's mark
Exceptionally large octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with decorated collar and one maker's mark
Exceptionally large octagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with decorated collar and one maker's mark
Two octagonal bowls side-by-side, one small, one exceptionally large
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with many markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with many markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with many markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with many markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with many markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with black linework and stamped marking
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with black linework and stamped marking
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with black linework and stamped marking
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with black linework and stamped marking
Dark brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with ornate impressed detail and markings
Dark brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with ornate impressed detail and markings
Dark brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with ornate impressed detail and markings
Dark brown stoneware opium pipe bowl with ornate impressed detail and markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with plain top and ornately stamped underside with markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with plain top and ornately stamped underside with markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with plain top and ornately stamped underside with markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with plain top and ornately stamped underside with markings
Hexagonal grey stoneware opium pipe bowl with plain top and ornately stamped underside with markings
Black Clay Pipe Bowls
This set includes a few oddities, some fairly rustic-looking examples, and a few pipes with lots of markings, some in unusual places. Some of these bowls seem to be made of red clay that has been blackened, whether through use or through other means.
Octagonal/domed black clay opium pipe bowl
Octagonal/domed black clay opium pipe bowl
Octagonal/domed black clay opium pipe bowl
Round blackened opium pipe bowl with metal outer rim and markings around base
Round blackened opium pipe bowl with metal outer rim and markings around base
Round blackened opium pipe bowl with metal outer rim and markings around base
Round blackened opium pipe bowl with metal outer rim and markings around base
Round blackened opium pipe bowl with metal outer rim and markings around base
Octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with worked brass supporting layer
Octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with worked brass supporting layer
Octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with worked brass supporting layer
Round black clay opium pipe bowl
Round black clay opium pipe bowl
Round black clay opium pipe bowl
Octagonal blackened clay opium pipe bowl with missing eye and several markings on top surface
Octagonal blackened clay opium pipe bowl with missing eye and several markings on top surface
Octagonal blackened clay opium pipe bowl with missing eye and several markings on top surface
Octagonal blackened clay opium pipe bowl with missing eye and several markings on top surface - the central character here ("壽") means longevity
Octagonal blackened clay opium pipe bowl with missing eye and several markings on top surface
Large octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with various figures on side panels
Large octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with various figures on side panels
Large octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with various figures on side panels
Large octagonal black clay opium pipe bowl with various figures on side panels
Fake/Reproduction Pipe Bowls
Here are a few very common fakes, just for reference.