Pipe - Wood, Bronze

Authentic and fully functional Chinese water pipe (shui yandai). This special smoking device is a beautiful example of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and daily life from that period. The pipe is distinguished by a fully modular design; the removable tobacco head with its characteristic long, tapering metal shaft and the gracefully curved wooden smoking pipe can both easily be removed from the fittings of the water reservoir. This ingenious system was designed at the time to allow the parts to be easily cleaned and freed of tar residues.

The object is built from a harmonious combination of materials. The round base, which serves as the water compartment, is made from an hollowed core of dark hardwood or thick-walled bamboo, which on the sides is finished with nicely flame-worked side plates of rootwood or tortoise-lacquer. On the bottom, the traditional construction technique is visible through an inset, rectangular wooden bottom panel with authentic shrinkage joints that belong to its great age. The upright fittings and the loose tobacco pipe are made of cast copper alloy, such as brass or bronze, which over the decades has developed a deep, dark brown to black patina. On the inside of the tubes there are still the original carbon and usage traces of historical tobacco consumption.

With a substantial height of 38 centimeters, a width of 13 centimeters and a depth of 8.6 centimeters this is a relatively large and robust specimen. The total weight is 330 grams. The object is in very good and original collection condition. The rare presence of the internal, loose tobacco shaft — a component that has often been lost over time — makes this specimen especially attractive. As an honest condition note it should be mentioned that there is a small, historical chip missing at the extreme tip of the wooden mouthpiece, an age-related trace that fits perfectly with the authentic character of this unique piece of smoking history.

Dimensions: 38x13x8.6 cm
Weight: 330 g