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Opium Den, Opium Pipe

An opium pipe is a pipe designed for the vaporization and inhalation of opium. True opium pipes allow for the drug to be vaporized while being heated over a special oil lamp known as an opium lamp. It is thought that this manner of smoking opium began in the 17th century when a special pipe was developed that vaporized opium instead of burning it. The configuration of the typical opium pipe consists of a long stem, a ceramic pipe-bowl, and a metal fitting, known as the saddle, through which the pipe-bowl plugs into the pipe-stem. The pipe-bowl must be detachable from the stem due to the necessity to remove the bowl and scrape its insides clean of opium ash after several pipes have been smoked. The stems of opium pipes were usually made from bamboo, but other materials such as ivory and silver were used. Pipe-bowls were typically some type of ceramic. Due to opium eradication campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries, genuine opium pipes are now extremely rare.
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Title:
Opium Den, Opium Pipe
Caption:
An opium pipe is a pipe designed for the vaporization and inhalation of opium. True opium pipes allow for the drug to be vaporized while being heated over a special oil lamp known as an opium lamp. It is thought that this manner of smoking opium began in the 17th century when a special pipe was developed that vaporized opium instead of burning it. The configuration of the typical opium pipe consists of a long stem, a ceramic pipe-bowl, and a metal fitting, known as the saddle, through which the pipe-bowl plugs into the pipe-stem. The pipe-bowl must be detachable from the stem due to the necessity to remove the bowl and scrape its insides clean of opium ash after several pipes have been smoked. The stems of opium pipes were usually made from bamboo, but other materials such as ivory and silver were used. Pipe-bowls were typically some type of ceramic. Due to opium eradication campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries, genuine opium pipes are now extremely rare.
Credit:
Album / NYPL/Science Source
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Image size:
4800 x 2873 px | 39.5 MB
Print size:
40.6 x 24.3 cm | 16.0 x 9.6 in (300 dpi)
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