Bidspirit auction | A Late 19th or Early

A Late 19th or Early 20th-Century Chinese Paktong and Cloisonne Enamel Water Pipe - A Chinese water pipe dating from the late Qing Dynasty or early Republic period, primarily constructed from paktong (a white metal alloy). The object features an oval-shaped base decorated with cloisonne enamel, depicting pink and blue floral blossoms with green foliage against a black ground, detailed with fine wirework cloud scrolls. The upper assembly comprises a long, elegantly curved mouthpiece stem, a central vertical pipe terminating in a small cylindrical bowl, and a tobacco compartment with a hinged lid. The pipe is complete with its original accessories, including a pair of long-handled tweezers and a cleaning pick, which are stored in two integrated cylindrical holders on the base. The underside of the tobacco compartment lid is incised with Chinese characters within a square seal border, although the characters are not clearly legible. This style of pipe was commonly produced for domestic use and as an export item during the late 19th century.