ORIGINAL 1800s CHINESE PIPE BOWL SIGNED OLD WEST HISTORY BAKER OREGON GOLD MINER

This auction is for an antique pipe bowl, circa sometime during the second half of the 1800's; it was found at an estate sale with many fine old antiques in Baker City, Oregon--which has a rich gold mining history during that era, which in turn attracted a large Chinese population to the area as miners, railroad laborers, servants and businessmen--this would be a piece that was probably brought here as a personal possession or imported for use in one of the several establishments that were said to be in operation in the later part of the century into the early 1900's. It is quality made, from some type of metal that now has a bronze color, don't know what it is but maybe copper or brass? The bowl is signed in two places with one stamp of Chinese characters on the shoulder and four groups of characters on the opposite shoulder, the single mark is identical to the two outer marks of the group of marks; sorry have no translation available so don't know what the markings stand for; the top is slightly domed and is very smooth with a sheen--from the heat from the pipe and active use over a period of time, also has some darkening/staining from being lit/used. It is roughly 2 3/4" across the top, stands about 2 1/4" tall overall; has an overall aged patina, no cracks found, has two small and smaller chips along the top edge and a couple flea bites but overall very nice for it's age and probably a pretty rare find!

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