Chinese Water Pipe from Bone
This is an antique water pipe that I acquire from an antique shop in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
![Chinese water pipe and stick](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Chinese-water-pipe-and-stick-595x793.jpg)
It is made from bone. Not sure which bone that is.
![Bone chinese water pipe with chinese writings](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Bone-chinese-water-pipe-with-chinese-writings-595x793.jpg)
It has Chinese writings on the bone. Can anyone tell me what the writing says? It also depicts a figure of a Chinese man.
![Bone Water Pipe with a Chinese man](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Bone-Water-Pipe-with-a-Chinese-man-595x793.jpg)
There are also mountains and grasses depicted on the bone. And the ink is coloured too, I think green and red.
![Mountain and grass painted on water pipe](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mountain-and-grass-painted-on-water-pipe-595x793.jpg)
![There is a chain](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/There-is-a-chain-595x793.jpg)
I think the chain links the small stick – I am not sure what the purpose of the small stick. Maybe as a key or to lock the lid?
![Rather new chain on the water pipe](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Rather-new-chain-on-the-water-pipe-595x793.jpg)
There is also the bigger stick, which I am not entirely sure what the function is. Is it for the suction?
![Water pipe with its stick](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Water-pipe-with-its-stick-595x793.jpg)
![Water Pipe and its stick](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Water-Pipe-and-its-stick-595x793.jpg)
I think water pipe is to smoke shabu – which is quite popular in Chinese community back then.
![Top of the lid, nice petals](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Top-of-the-lid-nice-petals-595x642.jpg)
I acquired this water pipe at Moesson Antik in Yogyakarta. Please see here for my Yogyakarta experience.
![Water pipe view from top](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Water-pipe-view-from-top-595x793.jpg)
The seller told me that this piece probably is from 1900 or late 19th century.
![Sumatra Indonesia Chinese water pipe](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sumatra-Indonesia-Chinese-water-pipe-595x793.jpg)
The seller told me that the owner acquire this piece from an Indonesian in Sumatra. So I would like to assume that this piece probably is used by the Chinese-Indonesian in Sumatra in the late 19th century.
![Indonesian chinese peranakan water pipe](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Indonesian-chinese-peranakan-water-pipe-595x793.jpg)
You can tell that this piece has been used. It is quite worn in some parts.
![Chinese water pipe with chinese writings](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Chinese-water-pipe-with-chinese-writings-595x793.jpg)
![The metal lid is very worn](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/The-metal-lid-is-very-worn-595x793.jpg)
![A little bit corode on the lid](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/A-little-bit-corode-on-the-lid-595x793.jpg)
There are writings too at the bottom.
![Water pipe bone chinese](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Water-pipe-bone-chinese-595x793.jpg)
![Bottom of water pipe](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Bottom-of-water-pipe-595x793.jpg)
Maybe there are Chinese marks at the bottom?
![Chinese marks at the bottom](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Chinese-marks-at-the-bottom-595x793.jpg)