Indo-Persian Filigree Opium Pipes, Pair — Silver-Mounted Brass, c. 1900

A pair of curved chillum-form smoking pipes in the Indo-Persian tradition, each built on a hand-forged brass shaft and dressed in dense silvered filigree — twisted rope collars, applied rosettes, granulated wirework, and openwork cages. The longer example sweeps into a faceted, mesh-bodied bowl with petal-form crown, applied flowerheads marching the length of the curve, and a suspended brass ball pendant swinging from the underside. Its companion carries an openwork caged sphere at the neck, trefoil mounts along the shaft, and a hinged lidded chamber trimmed with splayed wire dangles and tab-form drops, crowned by a coiled filigree finial.

CONDITION

Good with age-appropriate wear. Both shafts show dents, dings, and verdigris-toned patina across the silvered filigree, and small wire loops and dangles are bent or splayed in places. The hinged lid on the shorter pipe opens and closes on its original spring hinge, and both shafts remain structurally sound.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Taller Pipe: 10" Length
• Shorter Pipe: 8" Length
• Brass shafts with applied silvered filigree, rope-twist collars, and floral mounts
• Shorter pipe: hinged lidded bowl with internal draw aperture, trimmed with wire dangles and tab-form drops
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale