Chinese Paktong Opium Oil Lamp Can or Ewer

This fine, elegant and small oil can or ewer is to hold oil that was used to refuel an opium lamp. It is of paktong (baitong) that has been cast and engraved. It sits on a pierced ring foot. The sides similarly are pierced with ‘Shou’ or ‘long-life’ emblems separated by pierced panels of flowers in trellis form. Beneath the pierced side is a contrasting copper-coloured, plain, solid wall.

There is a square ‘S’-shaped spout, a lid with a spherical pull, and a high, circular handle that has been engraved with a grape and grape-leaf motif.

Small oil cans like this, and small lamps were integral to opium smoking. A small ball of opium would be balanced over a tiny aperture in a much larger opium pipe. The user would then tilt the head of the pipe so that it would heat the opium block so that it would being to vapourise. The fumes would then be drawn down into the pipe.

Paktong (a corruption of the the Cantonese baitong, or ‘white copper’) is an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc, and is an alloy that has been used in China for centuries.

The oil can is refined, and in fine condition.