As it turns out, I'm about 99% sure it's a resin casting, but it is still so ornate that I am happy with the purchase regardless.
This piece is supposed to be an opium pipe and measures 18" from tip to tip. Many of these are not functional pipes (there is no through passage for smoke). This one has the passage, but I wouldn't trust it being cast of unknown material and probably toxic content. A few friends have asked what I was putting in the bowl and suggested Maui waui. Just for the record, I'm almost 70 and I've never had so much as a single hit of cannabis in my life, and now is not the time to start. I don't do tobacco either. If that is or was your thing, I'm not commenting negatively; it's just not mine.
The detailing on this piece ranges from merely nice to stunning, with every type of Chinese icon you can think of.
I love the old man holding his apple(?) or gazing ball and standing on the head of a dragon.
Right below the bowl is a nicely rendered turtle.
Your comments and questions are welcomed. I tried checking these out on flea bay and didn't see anything approaching this quality. If I revealed what I actually paid, some will say higher numbers and more than a few will say it was I who got taken. So if anyone has experience with these or actually owns one, I'd love to hear about that and see pictures of your example. Give me your guess what I should have paid. I didn't bargain at all, just grabbed the deal. I'm not fascinated by it, so you might even talk me out of it. I just knew I could not let it get away. I figured that deal would not come around again. Thanks for listening and indulging me in posting it here.
