Opium Pillow – Antique Chinese Opium Pillow – Signed Chinese Opium Pillow

Description

Dated circa 1870, the Chinese T’ung Chih period (1861-1875), this signed white and blue porcelain pillow has been wonderfully preserved. Depicting an auspicious blue male fu dog with his ball on each side of the pillow, a female fu dog is also represented on the front and back of the pillow, and a geometric pattern decorates the edges.
Produced and used in opium dens throughout China these square pillows were not only decorative but functional. Although hard and cold, after a few tokes from the opium pipe the smoker would feel like their head was lying on a cool cloud. Smokers could safely store their valuables, money and other items inside the pillow while intoxicated and, if necessary, the pillow could be easily cleaned or washed. Measures approximately 5 3/4” x 5” x 2 ¾” and has the provenance on stickers from the previous owners, which could be removed.
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