Bone Water Pipe with a Chinese man

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
Chinese water pipe and stick

It is made from bone. Not sure which bone that is.

Bone chinese water pipe with chinese writings
Bone chinese water pipe with chinese writings

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
Bone Water Pipe with a Chinese man

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
Mountain and grass painted on water pipe
There is a chain
There is a modern chain attached

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
A rather modern chain on the water pipe

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
Water pipe with the bigger stick
Water Pipe and its stick
Can you spot both the small and the big sticks?

I think water pipe is to smoke shabu – which is quite popular in Chinese community back then.

Top of the lid, nice petals
Top of the lid, nice petals

I acquired this water pipe at Moesson Antik in Yogyakarta. Please see here for my Yogyakarta experience.

Water pipe view from top
Water pipe view from top

The seller told me that this piece probably is from 1900 or late 19th century.

Sumatra Indonesia Chinese water pipe
Sumatra Indonesia Chinese water pipe

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
Indonesian chinese peranakan water pipe?

You can tell that this piece has been used. It is quite worn in some parts.

Chinese water pipe with chinese writings
Some parts are quite worn / dirty.
The metal lid is very worn
The metal lid is quite worn
A little bit corode on the lid
A little bit corode on the lid

There are writings too at the bottom.

Water pipe bone chinese
Water pipe made from bone
Bottom of water pipe
Bottom of water pipe

Maybe there are Chinese marks at the bottom?

Chinese marks at the bottom
Chinese marks at the bottom?

 

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