✅ SOLVED Pewter Base?

[beau-bc]

Found in 2 different hunts,first was base with 3 legs on it, then found disk with holes, which fits perfectly into base, think its pewter,measures about 3 1/2" across. Is Chinese. Any Ideas?

 

[DoranHashemi]

Some kinda incense holder?

 

[kuger]

Beau,I need to put a tracking device on you so I know when you Post!!!What you have are the parts of a nice opium lamp

 

[bigfoot1]

....nice id kuger..I'd love to find such an item !!!!!

 

[kuger]

.....find lots of paraphernalia of opium smoking but the lamp parts are fairly scarce

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/12241367_opium-lamp-4-pcs-red-over-clear-glass-19th-c

 

[beau-bc]

Wow,thanks for that ID, after digging the disc piece noticed part of shoe in the ground, so with the toe of my boot, I moved the boot and this burner popped out,first one with writtingI've found.

 

[kuger]

Now that is KILLER!!Commonly called a "Damper",or of course just "bowl"yours is a highly desirable example.I have found many broken pieces but the complete pieces in my collection.....I had to trade/buy.That is a DANDY!!!Have you found any Pipe Saddles?

I want to post this link which shows a piece that yours is missing.It is an object I had dug quite a few of,and never put 2 and 2 together.Then it hit me........they are the brass piece that goes over the "stem"

http://www.dagoodstuff.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=418

 

[beau-bc]

This is the other side, I've found many broken ones, usually mud color, only have 2 wholes ones, both the red clay color. That collar piece looks familiar, have to go thru the scrap pile.That site produced some first for me, the pewter base, an opium pipe, and square soy sauce pots,a nice white one and a tan one,whole,unbroken.

 

[CC Hunter]

Those opium lamp parts are awesome finds!

The metal appears to be white brass, or nickle brass, rather than pewter alloy. Chinese were masters at brass alloy, long before the rest of the world caught on.

I've not seen Chinese items made of pewter that I can recall.

CC Hunter

 

[beau-bc]

I thought pewter because it is soft.When found a leg was bent over to the inside, a friend ,good with metal, bent it straight by hand as we were talking and I was looking at him horrified, just pictured leg snapping off but no, can't tell now which leg was the bent one.

 

[kuger]

Great points CC,I never even thought about that.

Beau,you Damper is also unique in that is has an enlarged/oversized hole?I can recall seeing that on one.It makes the method of which they were smoked nearly impossible.I am at a loss as to why its that way

 

[beau-bc]

Maybe the user had to modify it for use,reversed,made the opening larger to fit on pipe?original side for collar looks like inside of hole was being scraped to make wider but other side easier to make larger? I was guessing about the base being pewter, white brass sounds good to me.

 

[kuger]

Maybe the user had to modify it for use,reversed,made the opening larger to fit on pipe?original side for collar looks like inside of hole was being scraped to make wider but other side easier to make larger? I was guessing about the base being pewter, white brass sounds good to me.

I know that in the 1960's it was supposedly "common",for people to buy/dig these and break them to scrape the residue to lace marijuana....?So I have read anyway.I wonder if some down and out soul didnt possibly do this in in the days of old(obviously didnt break it)very interesting

 

[mical66]

wow ,, seems to be a awesome find

 

[mical66]

and thumbs up on the great ID