Mid 19th Century Buddha Belly Bamboo Pipe

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In the 19th century, the average Chinese home would be filled with things made out of bamboo. It was commonly … Read more In the 19th century, the average Chinese home would be filled with things made out of bamboo. It was commonly used to make clothes and paper, was cooked & eaten in some traditional recipes, fueled the cooking & heating family fire and also used as a pipe to smoke tobacco. This sculptural pipe was handcrafted from a special type of bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa), commonly called “Buddha belly bamboo”. The unusual form is created by artisans who regulate the water and root space to train the bamboo to grow with the characteristic bulges that have inspired its colorful name. See less