Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Visitors' Forum

Asian Art Forums - Reply Message
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: marinalo Mon, Jan 10, 2011 IP: 71.249.142.164
Hello, Please take a look on pictures attached and could you advise is it real bone or just seems like bone. The seller say "This piece is estimated to be from the late Qing Dynasty (particularly from the late 1800's to early 1900's). As shown in the pictures, this is a beautifully hand carved piece with great attention to detail."
Is it true or... cheap trash.
Regards







Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: Bill H Tue, Jan 11, 2011
Whether ox bone or molded plastic matters little, because your opium pipe would seem to be a contemporary era decorative item in my opinion.

In actual use the bowl of an opium pipe (round piece that screws into the stem) must be held over the flame of a spirit lamp in order to vaporize an attached small dab of opium for inhaling. If your pipe bowl is made of oxbone or resin, either substance would burn along with the opium and create unpleasant smoke along with the narcotic vapor.

Bowls on real opium pipes typically are made of ceramic or another noncombustibler substance.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: Gman Tue, Jan 11, 2011
It is a nicely carved pipe, and does not appear to be a cheap fake.

Your photos are not much help though.

You need to show the entire pipe, fully assembled, and close-ups (in focus).

Cheers
Gman

Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: Jim Lewis Tue, Jan 11, 2011
One mark of authenticity on a pipe is whather there is evidence that it was actually used for that purpose. Scorch in the bowl, nicotine stains in the stem and on the mouthpiece, etc.

Again, though, the detailed pictures are too out-of-focus to be of much help.

Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: marinalo Tue, Jan 11, 2011
Thank you for yours opinions.
More photo, please.It's pipe was used.
How old it maybe?
Regards







Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: Charles Brodsky Sun, Jun 26, 2016
The pipe is a non-functioning modern replica of an opium pipe and whether it is made of carved bone is highly questionable.

Post a Reply
Name:
Email:
Group: China & Japan
Subject:
Message:
Link URL:
Enter here the complete URL of any site, page or image you would like to show other visitors.
URL Title:
Enter here the title of the link you've given above. This will appear to the visitor. Eg., if you are linking another picture, enter "Another picture". The link will not appear without a title.
Image URL:
Enter here the URL of an image if it is already uploaded on the web. The image will appear with your posting. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post.
Image: You may upload up to three images. If you would like to upload more images to this message please do so by replying to this same message.

Please make sure the file type is JPEG or GIF and the filename does not contain spaces.




Use the Browse button to find an image (jpg or gif) on a local drive on your computer to upload for including with your message. Do not upload images with file names containing spaces. Please do not upload files larger than 500 KB in size. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post. Check the "email notification" box below if you would like to be notified of any responses to your message.
Check here for email notification.
Security Code: Security Image: please enter the text appears in this image.

Please type in the code you see in the image directly above this input box.

Subject:Re: Hand Carved Ox Bone Pipe????
Posted By: Bill H Sun, Jun 26, 2016
Further to the comment by Charles, herewith are photos of a 21.5-inch Chinese or Sino-Thai pipe from Thailand that is made of bone tubes, with buffalo horn mouthpiece, end-piece and bowl. The tubes are shown clearly to have traces of blood capillaries, which identify them as bone.

In the absence of a ceramic, stone or other such inorganic bowl, the pipe would be useless for any use other than display, because the heat would combust the horn (or other organic material), producing noxious gases potentially more injurious to the smoker than the opium itself.

Best regards,

Bill H.





Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |