Opium container, South-East Asia, circa 1960–1970
This opium container, most probably from mainland South-East Asia (Vietnam, Laos or northern Thailand), dates from the post-war period, roughly between 1960 and 1970. It is made of cow horn, a material frequently used in the folk artefacts of the region, valued for its durability and for the symbolism associated with strength and endurance. The outer surfaces are covered with a decorative plaiting of insulated wire in various colours - orange, white, brown, blue and grey - indicating a craft technique adapted to the materials available in the local or post-colonial context, when the recycling of industrial materials was common practice.
The container is fitted with a wooden stopper and comes with an iron spoon whose handle is wound with a twisted textile cord, allowing the object to be carried or attached to clothing. Objects of this kind often served a double function, practical and symbolic, forming part of the personal kit of opium smokers but also acting as a mark of identity in a social context in which the ritual of opium smoking carried ceremonial, spiritual or marginally prestigious associations.
Dimensions:
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Height: 8.5 cm
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Diameter: 3.5 cm
State of preservation:
The object is in good condition, as shown in the photograph. It has a natural patina and traces of wear consistent with its estimated age, with no visible recent intervention. The insulated wire partly retains its original colouring, and the wooden stopper and the little spoon are intact.
