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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: homeslice24 on March 07, 2011, 03:27:54 PM

Title: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 07, 2011, 03:27:54 PM
Found this in my ever lasting journey of antiques, After some searching i found out its a Chinese pipe but as you can see its not in very good condition.
What is the value of this and what can i do with it etc....

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h41/homeslice24/2011-03-07161735.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h41/homeslice24/2011-03-07161703.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h41/homeslice24/2011-03-07161553.jpg)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h41/homeslice24/2011-03-07161520.jpg)
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on March 07, 2011, 05:31:54 PM
A lot of these get classified as "opium pipes" but I can tell you this much, this one is not designed for smoking opium. Opium pipes are long with a ceramic knob with a hole in it where the opium was heated and smoked. To the best of my knowledge this would have been used for smoking tabacco. The hinge design looks somewhat recent to me, rather than something very old.

As to what you can do with it... boy did you just set yourself up for a whole lot of illegal substances jokes!
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 07, 2011, 06:05:22 PM
A lot of these get classified as "opium pipes" but I can tell you this much, this one is not designed for smoking opium. Opium pipes are long with a ceramic knob with a hole in it where the opium was heated and smoked. To the best of my knowledge this would have been used for smoking tabacco. The hinge design looks somewhat recent to me, rather than something very old.

As to what you can do with it... boy did you just set yourself up for a whole lot of illegal substances jokes!

lol yea i defiantly did. But if you google an image it should show you a mint condition with a longer pipe, but regardless it was used for smoking. Is it worth getting restored? I was looking around and saw prices up to $1,500
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: waywardangler on March 07, 2011, 07:51:44 PM
What were they on the low end?
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 07, 2011, 08:06:57 PM
im not sure, im guessing the high end.
Age: Late 19th - Early 20th Century

and then i saw one for $425 but it was made out of silver. I haven't figured out what this is made from or who made it.
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: regularjoe2 on March 07, 2011, 09:23:20 PM
Without having it to see in person , all I can offer is the speculation that your item is made from brass .

Although no one has asked yet , I'm wondering if there's marking(s) on the bottom of any of the components of your item , homeslice24 ?

Truth be told , my best guess @ this point is that it's Eastern Asian in origin , prob cast from expended ammunition cartridges (including artillery) .... mid 1960's thru 1980-ish .
I'd be happy to be proven wrong , though .

I saw many items of the same (basic) design & purpose while in that area of the world , generally 'marketed' to tourists (& servicemen) .
These also were in some demand with pot-smoking students/others in the U.S. during the 1960's - 1970's, who commonly knocked them over & spilt the bong-wash , after using , of course .

Not trying to add insult to injury , but I saw a "complete set" of one of these do-dads 'round about 2 weeks ago in a local thrift/vintage-type store showcase for a bit under $25 USD .
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: mariok54 on March 08, 2011, 01:50:53 AM
I found this one last evening, hard to compare it with yours, but it had a $50 start price and didn't sell.

http://www.icollector.com/Antique-Chinese-Brass-Water-Pipe-19th-C-1020122_i5833333
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 08, 2011, 10:02:11 AM
No. i have not seen any hallmarks on here, i checked every CM of it. Unless im blind ofcourse, But there is some script under the latch of what looks like the storage compartment.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h41/homeslice24/2011-03-08105834.jpg)

I dont know if there is any way someone could translate that for me?
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: mariok54 on March 08, 2011, 10:10:48 AM
'Smoking can damage your health'?   ;D

Sorry about that! I imagine with the sheer number of people this forum attracts, someone might be able to translate for you.
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 08, 2011, 12:26:15 PM
'Smoking can damage your health'?   ;D

Sorry about that! I imagine with the sheer number of people this forum attracts, someone might be able to translate for you.

ok thanks
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: mariok54 on March 08, 2011, 02:23:41 PM

There are quite a few out there, but prices do seem to vary. I agree with regularjoe that yours is most probably brass.


http://www.eastjava-antique.com/view_antiques.php?antiques_id=024M&images_name=024M_Chinese_Opium_Pipe.JPG

One sold on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150563263490

One going for $175 similar shape

http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/antiques-phil/Antiques/A61-Chinese-Opium-Pipe.html


Two silver metal ones fetched c $130 each

http://www.aspireauctions.com/auction217/32217.html
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 08, 2011, 03:04:20 PM
so does anyone recommend me posting it on ebay? And if so what starting price
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: KC on March 09, 2011, 11:35:02 AM
Sorry your pic isnt clear enough to pass on to friend to translate.

Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 09, 2011, 02:08:12 PM
Sorry your pic isnt clear enough to pass on to friend to translate.



sorry, i attached 2 more pictures. close ups
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 13, 2011, 04:37:43 PM
Bump .....
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 20, 2011, 11:41:35 AM
Just wanted to make this a hot topic ;). But seriously i don't think that its worth restoring or anything, i could possibly post it online and get an offer for it. Any ideas?

Thanks...
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: KC on March 21, 2011, 09:34:07 AM
Don't believe it is a high dollar item....you won't be able to retire on it!
Title: Re: Chinese Water Pipe - Bad condition
Post by: homeslice24 on March 21, 2011, 11:26:43 AM
Figures, Thanks for the help everyone.