University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, Pain
Accession Number
1969.10.2 a-d
Description
Brown reed opium pipe with trumpet shaped horn mouthpiece (d) and carved wood end of clenched fist (a) to support the turned wood pipe-bowl (b) with brass fittings on a straight brown reed pipe (c); round wood pipe-bowl with slight raised dome has small pin-hole in center, pairs of paint bands on s…
Brown reed opium pipe with trumpet shaped horn mouthpiece (d) and carved wood end of clenched fist (a) to support the turned wood pipe-bowl (b) with brass fittings on a straight brown reed pipe (c); round wood pipe-bowl with slight raised dome has small pin-hole in center, pairs of paint bands on sides and two different incised stamped Chinese character around the base of bowl and brass fitting wrapped with tan fabric strip to permit a tight fit into receiving brass fitting; base of clenched fist is the symbol for Yin /Yang; when assembled the pipe is 32.3 cm long; inspected and confirmed that there is no opium residue.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - clenched fist
b - pipe-bowl
c - reed pipe
d - mouthpiece
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; Dr. Leslie G. Kilborn.
Dates
1880
1920
1880-1920
Date Remarks
Research provided by expert
Material
wood: brown
horn: brown
metal: yellow
fabric: tan
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D4-8
Temporary Location
On exhibit “Selling Hope: A History of the Medical Marketplace” at Museum of Health Care, 29 June 2017.
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
a - fist – Height 3.8 cm x Depth 4.5 cm x Width 3.2 cm
b - pipe-bowl – Height 4.8 cm x Diam. 5.0 cm
c - reed pipe – Length 26.5 cm x Diam. 1.3 cm
d – mouthpiece – Length 5.0 cm x Diam. 2.8 cm
(d) measured widest end
Condition Remarks
Split in ivory fist from wrist to base of thumb
Copy Type
Original
Reference Comments
Dr. Leslie G. Kilborn: 1895-1967
http://www.opiummuseum.com/index.pl?pics&63
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_pipe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_den
Research Facts
Opium is one of the world's oldest drugs, originating from poppies. In the 19th century, opium was often smoked in pipes like this in "opium dens". These were associated with Chinese people, but were also frequented by Europeans. The opium had to be vaporized to be smoked, which necessitated the pipe bowl and opium lamp. Opium eventually became a controlled substance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and much opium paraphernalia was destroyed.