Nineteenth Century Chinese Water Pipe in Paktong

The Chinese water pipes for smoking opium or tobacco could be beautifully decorated with enamel or be coated with precious materials such as ray skin. How were they used? The heated opium was placed in the lidded well of the pipe. The smoker could inhale the fumes through this pipe. Most water pipes have a holder for storing the maintenance tools, such as a little brush, a spike and tweezers. The water pipes could easily be smoked while sitting down, unlike the regular opium pipes...

Beautiful Chinese wooden rice box tracing back to 19th century China with hand painted decorations. A rare find filled with history !

The cylindrical opium container is executed in hammered brass and decorated with an expressive repose design of a rider in a landscape with blossom tre...

Unusual Balinese monkey mask-most probably a representation of Hanuman Here is some more info from Ubud. Mask-making is one of the oldest art-forms in the world. In Bali, masks (t...

Chinese Dignatary figure in gilded and painted wood. 18th century. On a modern wood base.

Big hardwood figure of a dignitary lacquered in original patina. Signs of age-related wear on the base, but all of excellent quality, China, 18th century.

A remarkable Chinese life sized painted stucco head of a luohan, Song, Liao or Jin Dynasty, circa 11th century, China. The amazingly life-like figure depicts a luohan (sometime spelled lohan), also known as an arhat, one of the original disciples of the Buddha. The elderly man has been molded in stucco with inset glass eyes and painted with idealized, if slightly exaggerated features. The unidentified luohan sports a bald, or perhaps shaved, domed head above a bulging forehead, symbolizing his vast wisdom. The wrinkles in his furrowed brow, and creases around his eyes add to his realism. The learned man stares out wisely from deep set, heavily lidded inlaid glass eyes that catch the light. The luohan has high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. His lips full and pursed as if about to speak. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly in a faint smile, causing his gaunt cheeks to dimple charismatically. A series of dots above the upper lip indicate he may originally have sported a mustache of real hair. This life sized head with extremely realistic features fits into a very narrow time frame of Chinese Buddhist art. Perhaps the most recognized group of large, finely molded Chinese luohan...

Amazing and beautiful Chinese cloisonné opium pipe, enamelled with loto flowers, character marks to the base, 28cm high Astonishing opium pipe with mot...