Ipoh World

Participants of those establishments known as Opium Dens would be so embraced in the clutches of the opium effects that they could only remain on their sides often laying upon mats made of pliable split bamboo and placing their heads upon whatever manner of headrest was available. This allowed them not only to rest their heads, but also to hold the pipe damper conveniently over the opium lamp to continue their smoking. The headrest could be made of any durable material such as wood, porcelain, bamboo, or in this case leather in the form of a small curved pillow with decorated ends.

This pillow measures 21cmX13cmX9cm. It has a picture of a mandarin duck and a lotus flower painted on one end and a Chinese poem written in white paint on the other. The poem is about the feeling of the opium smoker when he is well into the opium session. It tells us that a man should take time away from his hard hard life to enjoy opium, where sweet dreams emerge from the haze and the environment becomes beautiful with fine weather, moving clouds and the wind gently moving the hanging branches of a willow tree. Here old men become young and aching limbs disappear.

Of course opium was not only the habit of the Chinese coolie as many rich men also smoked opium regularly. These men frequented comfortable parlours rather than dens, but this poem is clearly aimed at the coolie as it was the only way he could escape to the better environment, albeit only for a short while, until his money ran out.

To see a silver opium pipe and ceramic damper with a description of how they operate, click here.

To see the details of a wooden opium pillow, click here.

To see the details of a porcelain opium pillow, click here.

To see the details of a traveller's wooden opium pillow, click here.

To see the details of a rattan opium pillow, click here.