Figural opium damper

February 2005

A functional pipe with a simple opium damper is the most suitable for the opium taker. Nevertheless, in addition to these plain objects that are suitable for use, curiosities have also been created for which the figurative damper shown here is exemplary. The bowl is shaped like a sitting mandarin with a bare belly, his navel forms the pipe bowl, the arms run along the body, the right hand rests on the knee while he holds something unclear in its left hand. The person wears a flat cap on the head. Thanks to the posture of the buddha, a compact design has been obtained where only the head sticks out. As usual, this opium damper is provided on the underside with a maker's mark consisting of two impressed Chinese characters. Various of such bowls were alternately placed on the long tubular stem of the opium pipe. Due to a metal bowl holder with a short insertion stem on the pipe damper, that could be done with a simple movement. The insert stem slid into a cuff-shaped holder that was attached to the pipe stem with a so-called saddle plate. Quick change was possible, while standardized diameters of the stem and saddle plate ensure an airtight placement of the damper.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 17.491

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