University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, Pain
Accession Number
1969.315.1 a-b
Description
Dark grey tinged glossy finish over silver plated spherical hollow container (a) with weighted bottom has removable screw type lid (b) with cream cotton braided wick inserted into pipe; around circumference of bottom are five embossed floral designs applied to base; lid has fluted collar with ruffl…
Dark grey tinged glossy finish over silver plated spherical hollow container (a) with weighted bottom has removable screw type lid (b) with cream cotton braided wick inserted into pipe; around circumference of bottom are five embossed floral designs applied to base; lid has fluted collar with ruffled serrated edges; manufacturers mark on base.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - base
b - lid
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source unknown.
On bottom, surrounding an illustration of weigh scales on a shield: "Meriden B. Company // 6L //USA"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D4-8
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
a - lamp - Length 6.0 cm
b - lid - Depth 2.5 cm x Diam. 4.4 cm
Condition Remarks
Lid with one side flat; minor surface rust inside lid; three dents on base; three spots where finish is missing
Copy Type
Original
Research Facts
Designed to heat an opium pipe and bowl to vaporize the opium so that it could be inhaled. Production lessened in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries because of opium eradication campaigns, and then stopped in China after the Communist Revolution in 1949. Production continued on a small scale in parts of Asia until the 1960s.