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Hi, I have what I believe to be an opium pipe. Can anyone tell me if I'm correct, along with the maker and age? I added pictures of the chop marks on the bottom. I love this site by the way.
Thanks!

This is likely a water pipe, not an opium pipe, and the mark is DA QING YONG ZHENG NIAN ZHI, or from the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735) however the ceramic would appear to be Shiwan ware crackled procelain of the latter half of the 19th century.

Anthony M. Lee
Asian Art Research

Mr. Lee is correct. It is an Annamese water pipe, the Vietnamese variant of the Chinese water pipe. During the Qing Dynasty (perhaps even earlier) China supplied Annam with ceramics and porcelain art objects to th Imperial Coourt of Annam. Not sure of this pipe's age (I am not an expert on ceramics), but I am confident, having studied opium pipes, that this is a water pipe, and, on occasion, the tobacco was laced with opium and smoked in just such a pipe! Annam had its fair share of opium users. This style and others will be illustrated in my forthcoming book,"The Arts of an Addiction: Qing Dynasty Opium Pipes and Accessories." Many high-quality rproductions are coming out of the Orient of late and can be seen on eBay for sale at rock-bottom prices offered in the USA, France, England, and even Hong Kong.

This is a water pipe. Looks new. Cannot read the Chinese caracters are they are upsidedown.

Cheers

Christophe is right. The characters are upside-down. Mr. Lee failed to mention that "DA QING" means the Qing Dynasty.

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